36 Elihu continued:

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

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

3 I get my knowledge from afar;k

I will ascribe justice to my Maker.l

4 Be assured that my words are not false;m

one who has perfect knowledgen is with you.o

5 “God is mighty,p but despises no one;q

he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.r

6 He does not keep the wicked alives

but gives the afflicted their rights.t

7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous;u

he enthrones them with kingsv

and exalts them forever.w

8 But if people are bound in chains,x

held fast by cords of affliction,y

9 he tells them what they have done—

that they have sinned arrogantly.z

10 He makes them listena to correctionb

and commands them to repent of their evil.c

11 If they obey and serve him,d

they will spend the rest of their days in prosperitye

and their years in contentment.f

12 But if they do not listen,

they will perish by the sworda g

and die without knowledge.h

13 “The godless in hearti harbor resentment;j

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

14 They die in their youth,l

among male prostitutes of the shrines.m

15 But those who suffern he delivers in their suffering;o

he speaksp to them in their affliction.q

16 “He is wooingr you from the jaws of distress

to a spacious places free from restriction,t

to the comfort of your tableu laden with choice food.v

17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;w

judgment and justice have taken hold of you.x

18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;

do not let a large bribey turn you aside.z

19 Would your wealtha or even all your mighty efforts

sustain you so you would not be in distress?

20 Do not long for the night,b

to drag people away from their homes.b

21 Beware of turning to evil,c

which you seem to prefer to affliction.d

22 “God is exalted in his power.e

Who is a teacher like him?f

23 Who has prescribed his waysg for him,h

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

24 Remember to extol his work,j

which people have praised in song.k

25 All humanity has seen it;l

mortals gaze on it from afar.

26 How great is God—beyond our understanding!m

The number of his years is past finding out.n

27 “He draws up the drops of water,o

which distill as rain to the streamsc;p

28 the clouds pour down their moisture

and abundant showersq fall on mankind.r

29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,

how he thunderss from his pavilion?t

30 See how he scatters his lightningu about him,

bathing the depths of the sea.v

31 This is the way he governsd the nationsw

and provides foodx in abundance.y

32 He fills his hands with lightning

and commands it to strike its mark.z

33 His thunder announces the coming storm;a

even the cattle make known its approach.e b