5 “Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked, But gives justice to the oppressed.
7 He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings, For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted.
8 And if they are bound in fetters, Held in the cords of affliction,
9 Then He tells them their work and their transgressions— That they have acted defiantly.
10 He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.
12 But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.
13 “But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 They die in youth, And their life ends among the perverted persons.
15 He delivers the poor in their affliction, And opens their ears in oppression.
16 “Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, Into a broad place where there is no restraint; And what is set on your table would be full of richness.
17 But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow; For a large ransom would not help you avoid it.
19 Will your riches, Or all the mighty forces, Keep you from distress?
20 Do not desire the night, When people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 “Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him?
23 Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, “You have done wrong’?
24 “Remember to magnify His work, Of which men have sung.
25 Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar.
26 “Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
27 For He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist,
28 Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy?
30 Look, He scatters His light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with lightning, And commands it to strike.
33 His thunder declares it, The cattle also, concerning the rising storm.
1 “At this also my heart trembles, And leaps from its place.
2 Hear attentively the thunder of His voice, And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3 He sends it forth under the whole heaven, His lightning to the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
5 God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
6 For He says to the snow, “Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
7 He seals the hand of every man, That all men may know His work.
8 The beasts go into dens, And remain in their lairs.
9 From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind, And cold from the scattering winds of the north.
10 By the breath of God ice is given, And the broad waters are frozen.
11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds.
12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, That they may do whatever He commands them On the face of the whole earth.
13 He causes it to come, Whether for correction, Or for His land, Or for mercy.
14 “Listen to this, O Job; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know when God dispatches them, And causes the light of His cloud to shine?
16 Do you know how the clouds are balanced, Those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 Why are your garments hot, When He quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 With Him, have you spread out the skies, Strong as a cast metal mirror?
19 “Teach us what we should say to Him, For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
20 Should He be told that I wish to speak? If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.
21 Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies, When the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 He comes from the north as golden splendor; With God is awesome majesty.
23 As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress.
24 Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart.”
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
2 “Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb;
9 When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band;
10 When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors;
11 When I said, “This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!’
12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?
