Job 36

Elihu continued:

“Bear with me a little longer and I will show you

that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.

I get my knowledge from afar;^a

I will ascribe justice to my Maker.^b

Be assured that my words are not false;^c

one who has perfect knowledge^d is with you.^e

“God is mighty,^f but despises no one;^g

he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.^h

He does not keep the wicked aliveⁱ

but gives the afflicted their rights.^j

He does not take his eyes off the righteous;^k

he enthrones them with kings^l

and exalts them forever.^m

But if people are bound in chains,ⁿ

held fast by cords of affliction,^o

he tells them what they have done—

that they have sinned arrogantly.^p

He makes them listen^q to correction^r

and commands them to repent of their evil.^s

If they obey and serve him,^t

they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity^u

and their years in contentment.^v

But if they do not listen,

they will perish by the sword^w

and die without knowledge.^x

“The godless in heart^y harbor resentment;^z

even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.^a

They die in their youth,^b

among male prostitutes of the shrines.^c

But those who suffer^d he delivers in their suffering;^e

he speaks^f to them in their affliction.^g

“He is wooing^h you from the jaws of distress

to a spacious placeⁱ free from restriction,^j

to the comfort of your table^k laden with choice food.^l

But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;^m

judgment and justice have taken hold of you.ⁿ

Be careful that no one entices you by riches;

do not let a large bribe^o turn you aside.^p

Would your wealth^q or even all your mighty efforts

sustain you so you would not be in distress?

Do not long for the night,^r

to drag people away from their homes.

Beware of turning to evil,^s

which you seem to prefer to affliction.^t

“God is exalted in his power.^u

Who is a teacher like him?^v

Who has prescribed his ways^w for him,^x

or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?^y

Remember to extol his work,^z

which people have praised in song.^a

All human beings have seen it;^b

mortals gaze on it from afar.

How great is God—beyond our understanding!^c

The number of his years is past finding out.^d

“He draws up the drops of water,^e

which distill as rain to the streams;^f

the clouds pour down their moisture

and abundant showers^g fall on the human race.^h

Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,

how he thundersⁱ from his pavilion?^j

See how he scatters his lightning^k about him,

bathing the depths of the sea.^l

This is the way he governs the nations^m

and provides foodⁿ in abundance.^o

He fills his hands with lightning

and commands it to strike its mark.^p

His thunder announces the coming storm;^q

even the cattle make known its approach.^r