A reading from the book of Job.

At this also my heart trembles and leaps out of its place.

Keep listening to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.

Under the whole heaven, he lets it go, and his lightning to the corners of the earth.

After it, his voice roars, he thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard.

God thunders wondrously with his voice. He does great things that we cannot comprehend,

for to the snow he says fall on the earth, likewise to the downpour his mighty downpour.

He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he made may know it.

Then the beasts go into their layers and remain in their dens. From its chamber comes the

whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds. By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad

waters are frozen fast. He loads the thick cloud with moisture. The clouds scatter his lightning.

They turn around and around by his guidance to accomplish all that he commands them, on the face of

the habitable world. Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen.

Hear this, O Job. Stop and consider the wondrous works of God. Do you know how God lays his

command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine? Do you know the balancings

of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge? You whose garments are hot

when the earth is still because of the south wind? Can you, like him, spread out the skies,

hard as a cast, metal mirror? Teach us what we shall say to him. We cannot draw up our case because of

darkness. Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?

And now no one looks on the light, when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has

passed and cleared them. Out of the north comes golden splendor. God is clothed with awesome

majesty. The Almighty we cannot find him. He is great in power. Justice and abundant righteousness

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