New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 "At this also my heart trembles, and leaps out of its place.
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At this my heart is shaking; it is moved out of its place.
2 Listen, listen to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
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Give ear to the rolling noise of his voice; to the hollow sound which goes out of his mouth.
3 Under the whole heaven he lets it loose, and his lightning to the corners of the earth.
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He sends it out through all the heaven, and his thunder-flame to the ends of the earth.
4 After it his voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard.
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After it a voice is sounding, thundering out the word of his power; he does not keep back his thunder-flames; from his mouth his voice is sounding.
5 God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
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He does wonders, more than may be searched out; great things of which we have no knowledge;
6 For to the snow he says, "Fall on the earth'; and the shower of rain, his heavy shower of rain,
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For he says to the snow, Make the earth wet; and to the rain-storm, Come down.
7 serves as a sign on everyone's hand, so that all whom he has made may know it.
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He puts an end to the work of every man, so that all may see his work.
8 Then the animals go into their lairs and remain in their dens.
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Then the beasts go into their holes, and take their rest.
9 From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds.
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Out of its place comes the storm-wind, and the cold out of its store-houses.
10 By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast.
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By the breath of God ice is made, and the wide waters are shut in.
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning.
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The thick cloud is weighted with thunder-flame, and the cloud sends out its light;
12 They turn round and round by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world.
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And it goes this way and that, round about, turning itself by his guiding, to do whatever he gives orders to be done, on the face of his world of men,
13 Whether for correction, or for his land, or for love, he causes it to happen.
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For a rod, or for a curse, or for mercy, causing it to come on the mark.
14 "Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.
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Give ear to this, O Job, and keep quiet in your place; and take note of the wonders worked by God.
15 Do you know how God lays his command upon them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
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Have you knowledge of God's ordering of his works, how he makes the light of his cloud to be seen?
16 Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of the one whose knowledge is perfect,
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Have you knowledge of the balancings of the clouds, the wonders of him who has all wisdom?
17 you whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind?
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You, whose clothing is warm, when the earth is quiet because of the south wind,
18 Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a molten mirror?
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Will you, with him, make the skies smooth, and strong as a polished looking-glass?
19 Teach us what we shall say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
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Make clear to me what we are to say to him; we are unable to put our cause before him, because of the dark.
20 Should he be told that I want to speak? Did anyone ever wish to be swallowed up?
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How may he have knowledge of my desire for talk with him? or did any man ever say, May destruction come on me?
21 Now, no one can look on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them.
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And now the light is not seen, for it is dark because of the clouds; but a wind comes, clearing them away.
22 Out of the north comes golden splendor; around God is awesome majesty.
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A bright light comes out of the north; God's glory is greatly to be feared.
23 The Almighty —we cannot find him; he is great in power and justice, and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
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There is no searching out of the Ruler of all: his strength and his judging are great; he is full of righteousness, doing no wrong.
24 Therefore mortals fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit."
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For this cause men go in fear of him; he has no respect for any who are wise in heart.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.