Job 36:1–33

¹ And Elihu continued: ² “Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf. ³ I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker. ⁴ For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you. ⁵ Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding. ⁶ He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted. ⁷ He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever. ⁸ And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction, ⁹ then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed. ¹⁰ He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity. ¹¹ If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness. ¹² But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge. ¹³ The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help. ¹⁴ They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes. ¹⁵ God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression. ¹⁶ Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness. ¹⁷ But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you. ¹⁸ Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray. ¹⁹ Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress? ²⁰ Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes. ²¹ Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction. ²² Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him? ²³ Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’? ²⁴ Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song. ²⁵ All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar. ²⁶ Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable. ²⁷ For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist, ²⁸ which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind. ²⁹ Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion? ³⁰ See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea. ³¹ For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance. ³² He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. ³³ The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.