King James Version KJV
Good News Translation GNT
1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.
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The storm makes my heart beat wildly.
2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
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Listen, all of you, to the voice of God, to the thunder that comes from his mouth.
3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
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He sends the lightning across the sky, from one end of the earth to the other.
4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
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Then the roar of his voice is heard, the majestic sound of thunder, and all the while the lightning flashes.
5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
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At God's command amazing things happen, wonderful things that we can't understand.
6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
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He commands snow to fall on the earth, and sends torrents of drenching rain.
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
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He brings our work to a stop; he shows us what he can do.
8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
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The wild animals go to their dens.
9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
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The storm winds come from the south, and the biting cold from the north.
10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
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The breath of God freezes the waters, and turns them to solid ice.
11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
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Lightning flashes from the clouds,
12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
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as they move at God's will. They do all that God commands, everywhere throughout the world.
13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
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God sends rain to water the earth; he may send it to punish us, or to show us his favor.
14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
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Pause a moment, Job, and listen; consider the wonderful things God does.
15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
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Do you know how God gives the command and makes lightning flash from the clouds?
16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
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Do you know how clouds float in the sky, the work of God's amazing skill?
17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
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No, you can only suffer in the heat when the south wind oppresses the land.
18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
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Can you help God stretch out the sky and make it as hard as polished metal?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
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Teach us what to say to God; our minds are blank; we have nothing to say.
20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
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I won't ask to speak with God; why should I give him a chance to destroy me?
21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
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And now the light in the sky is dazzling, too bright for us to look at it; and the sky has been swept clean by the wind.
22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
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A golden glow is seen in the north, and the glory of God fills us with awe.
23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
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God's power is so great that we cannot come near him; he is righteous and just in his dealings with us.
24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
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No wonder, then, that everyone is awed by him, and that he ignores those who claim to be wise.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.