The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 "Whenever this happens, my heart stops - I'm stunned, I can't catch my breath.
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“At this also my heart trembles and leaps out of its place.
2 Listen to it! Listen to his thunder, the rolling, rumbling thunder of his voice.
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Keep listening to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3 He lets loose his lightnings from horizon to horizon, lighting up the earth from pole to pole.
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Under the whole heaven he lets it go, and his lightning to the corners of the earth.
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 -
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After it his voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard.
5 His word thundering so wondrously, his mighty acts staggering our understanding.
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God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
6 He orders the snow, 'Blanket the earth!' and the rain, 'Soak the whole countryside!'
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For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth, ’likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
7 No one can escape the weather - it's there. And no one can escape from God.
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He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he made may know it.
8 Wild animals take shelter, crawling into their dens,
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Then the beasts go into their lairs, and remain in their dens.
9 When blizzards roar out of the north and freezing rain crusts the land.
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From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds.
10 It's God's breath that forms the ice, it's God's breath that turns lakes and rivers solid.
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By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast.
11 And yes, it's God who fills clouds with rainwater and hurls lightning from them every which way.
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He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning.
12 He puts them through their paces - first this way, then that - commands them to do what he says all over the world.
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They turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world.
13 Whether for discipline or grace or extravagant love, he makes sure they make their mark. A Terrible Beauty Streams from God
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Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen.
14 "Job, are you listening? Have you noticed all this? Stop in your tracks! Take in God's miracle-wonders!
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“Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you have any idea how God does it all, how he makes bright lightning from dark storms,
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Do you know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16 How he piles up the cumulus clouds - all these miracle-wonders of a perfect Mind?
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Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,
17 Why, you don't even know how to keep cool on a sweltering hot day,
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you whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind?
18 So how could you even dream of making a dent in that hot-tin-roof sky?
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Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a cast metal mirror?
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.
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Teach us what we shall say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
20 Do you think I'm dumb enough to challenge God? Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?
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Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?
21 No one in his right mind stares straight at the sun on a clear and cloudless day.
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“And now no one looks on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 As gold comes from the northern mountains, so a terrible beauty streams from God.
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Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed with awesome majesty.
23 "Mighty God! Far beyond our reach! Unsurpassable in power and justice! It's unthinkable that he'd treat anyone unfairly.
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The Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
24 So bow to him in deep reverence, one and all! If you're wise, you'll most certainly worship him."
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Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit. ”
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.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025