Job 36
Elihu Describes God’s Power
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 1 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 2 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 3 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 4 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.