New International Version NIV
The Message Bible MSG
1 “At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.
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"Whenever this happens, my heart stops - I'm stunned, I can't catch my breath.
2 Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
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Listen to it! Listen to his thunder, the rolling, rumbling thunder of his voice.
3 He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.
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He lets loose his lightnings from horizon to horizon, lighting up the earth from pole to pole.
4 After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.
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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’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
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His word thundering so wondrously, his mighty acts staggering our understanding.
6 He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’
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He orders the snow, 'Blanket the earth!' and the rain, 'Soak the whole countryside!'
7 So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor.
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No one can escape the weather - it's there. And no one can escape from God.
8 The animals take cover; they remain in their dens.
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Wild animals take shelter, crawling into their dens,
9 The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.
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When blizzards roar out of the north and freezing rain crusts the land.
10 The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.
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It's God's breath that forms the ice, it's God's breath that turns lakes and rivers solid.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them.
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And yes, it's God who fills clouds with rainwater and hurls lightning from them every which way.
12 At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.
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He puts them through their paces - first this way, then that - commands them to do what he says all over the world.
13 He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love.
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Whether for discipline or grace or extravagant love, he makes sure they make their mark. A Terrible Beauty Streams from God
14 “Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.
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"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 controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
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Do you have any idea how God does it all, how he makes bright lightning from dark storms,
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?
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How he piles up the cumulus clouds - all these miracle-wonders of a perfect Mind?
17 You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
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Why, you don't even know how to keep cool on a sweltering hot day,
18 can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?
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So how could you even dream of making a dent in that hot-tin-roof sky?
19 “Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
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"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 Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
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Do you think I'm dumb enough to challenge God? Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?
21 Now no one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.
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No one in his right mind stares straight at the sun on a clear and cloudless day.
22 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.
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As gold comes from the northern mountains, so a terrible beauty streams from God.
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
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"Mighty God! Far beyond our reach! Unsurpassable in power and justice! It's unthinkable that he'd treat anyone unfairly.
24 Therefore, people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart? ”
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So bow to him in deep reverence, one and all! If you're wise, you'll most certainly worship him."
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
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.