Chapter 37

What wonder if my heart trembles and fails me at the thought?

Listen to the bruit of it, the voice that speaks amid such terrors, the dread accents of that utterance!

Under what part of heaven, into what corner of earth does he not look, do not his lightnings flash?

Then what a crash resounds, the magnificent peal of his thunder; a voice heard, and none can tell whence it comes!

God’s voice in the thunder, a marvel worthy of him, whose deeds are so great and so unsearchable.

He it is that bids the snows fall over earth, and winter shower, and his fierce storms of rain.

No hand of man but is shut up close now under his seal, that owns him Master-workman of all;

cowers the beast in its lair, or lurks in its cave;

from his treasure-house in the north, tempest comes and cold.

At God’s breath the frost binds fast, till he bids the waters flow again in plenty.

And now the crops must have rain; far and wide the clouds scatter their rays of hope;

this way and that they turn at the guidance of his will, to do their appointed task on earth,

among distant tribes, or here in his own land, let his mercy bid them appear where it may.

Matter enough, Job, for thy heeding! Halt where thou standest, and consider the marvellous acts of God.

Canst thou tell us when it was God bade the rain bring hope to us from those clouds of his,

tell us the course of their journeyings? Is thy knowledge so perfect?

See if thy garments do not cling warm about thee when the south wind cheers the earth!

And was it with help of thine God fashioned the heavens, firm as cast bronze?

Tell us, what words we shall use to him, we, shut up in our darkness?

What messenger shall deliver my complaint to him, a human messenger that will bring on himself only ruin?

Light fails men’s eyes; all of a sudden, the air is thick with clouds; then a breath of passing wind has driven them away!

As well search for the treasures of the north, as for the majestic praise which is God’s due;

find speech worthy of it we cannot, so great he is in strength, so prudent in counsel, so faithful in right dealing, past all that tongue can tell.

Well may men fear him; none that think themselves wise but will tremble to meet his look.