English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 "At this also my heart trembles and leaps out of its place.
1
"Whenever this happens, my heart stops - I'm stunned, I can't catch my breath.
2 Keep listening to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
2
Listen to it! Listen to his thunder, the rolling, rumbling thunder of his voice.
3 Under the whole heaven he lets it go, and his lightning to the corners of the earth.
3
He lets loose his lightnings from horizon to horizon, lighting up the earth from pole to pole.
4 After it his voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard.
4
In their wake, the thunder echoes his voice, powerful and majestic. He lets out all the stops, he holds nothing back. No one can mistake that voice -
5 God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
5
His word thundering so wondrously, his mighty acts staggering our understanding.
6 For to the snow he says, 'Fall on the earth,' likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
6
He orders the snow, 'Blanket the earth!' and the rain, 'Soak the whole countryside!'
7 He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he made may know it.
7
No one can escape the weather - it's there. And no one can escape from God.
8 Then the beasts go into their lairs, and remain in their dens.
8
Wild animals take shelter, crawling into their dens,
9 From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds.
9
When blizzards roar out of the north and freezing rain crusts the land.
10 By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast.
10
It's God's breath that forms the ice, it's God's breath that turns lakes and rivers solid.
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning.
11
And yes, it's God who fills clouds with rainwater and hurls lightning from them every which way.
12 They turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world.
12
He puts them through their paces - first this way, then that - commands them to do what he says all over the world.
13 Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen.
13
Whether for discipline or grace or extravagant love, he makes sure they make their mark. A Terrible Beauty Streams from God
14 "Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.
14
"Job, are you listening? Have you noticed all this? Stop in your tracks! Take in God's miracle-wonders!
15 Do you know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
15
Do you have any idea how God does it all, how he makes bright lightning from dark storms,
16 Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,
16
How he piles up the cumulus clouds - all these miracle-wonders of a perfect Mind?
17 you whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind?
17
Why, you don't even know how to keep cool on a sweltering hot day,
18 Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a cast metal mirror?
18
So how could you even dream of making a dent in that hot-tin-roof sky?
19 Teach us what we shall say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
19
"If you're so smart, give us a lesson in how to address God. We're in the dark and can't figure it out.
20 Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?
20
Do you think I'm dumb enough to challenge God? Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?
21 "And now no one looks on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them.
21
No one in his right mind stares straight at the sun on a clear and cloudless day.
22 Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed with awesome majesty.
22
As gold comes from the northern mountains, so a terrible beauty streams from God.
23 The Almighty--we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
23
"Mighty God! Far beyond our reach! Unsurpassable in power and justice! It's unthinkable that he'd treat anyone unfairly.
24 Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit."
24
So bow to him in deep reverence, one and all! If you're wise, you'll most certainly worship him."
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.