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Reason for continuing

36 Continuing, Elihu said,

Wait a little while so I can demonstrate for you
    that there is still something more to say about God.
I will draw from my broad knowledge,
    attribute justice to my maker.
My words are certainly truthful;
    one with total knowledge is present with you.

Divine discipline

Look, God is mighty and doesn’t reject anyone;
    he is mighty in strength and mind.
He doesn’t let the wicked live,
    but grants justice to the poor.
He doesn’t avert his eyes from the righteous;
    he seats kings on thrones forever,
        and they are lifted up.
If they are tied with ropes,
        caught in cords of affliction,
    he informs them about their offenses
        and their grave sins.
10 He opens their ears with discipline
    and commands them to turn from wrong.
11 If they listen and serve,
    they spend their days in plenty,
    their years contentedly.
12 But if they don’t listen,
    they perish by the sword,
    breathe their last without understanding.
13 Those with impious hearts become furious;
    they don’t cry out even though he binds them.
14 They die young;
    they are among the holy ones.
15 He saves the weak in their affliction,
    opens their ears through oppression.
16 Surely he draws you up from the brink of trouble
    to a wide place without distress;
    your table is set with rich food.
17 You are overly concerned about the case of the wicked;
    justice will be upheld in it.
18 Don’t let them lure you with wealth;
    don’t let a huge bribe mislead you.
19 Will he arrange your rescue from distress
    or from all your exertions of strength?
20 Don’t wish for the night
    when people vanish from their place.
21 Take care; don’t turn to evil
    because you’ve chosen it over affliction.
22 Look, God is inaccessible due to his power;
    who is a teacher like him?
23 Who has repaid him for his action,
    and who would ever say, “You’ve done wrong”?
24 Remember to praise his work
    that all of us have seen.
25 Every person has seen him;
    people can observe at great distance.

God’s control of the storm

26 Look, God is exalted and unknowable;
    the number of his years is beyond counting.
27 He draws up drops of water
        that distill rain from his flood;
28     the clouds pour moisture
        and drip continually on humans.
29 Even if one perceives a spreading cloud
        and the thunder of his pavilion,[a]
30     look how he spreads lightning across it
        and covers the seabed;
31     for by water[b] he judges peoples
        and gives food in abundance.
32 He conceals lightning in his palms
    and orders it to its target.
33 His thunder announces it;
    even cattle proclaim its rising.

Footnotes

  1. Job 36:29 Or canopy
  2. Job 36:31 Or them

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 alive(I)
    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)
10 He makes them listen(Q) to correction(R)
    and commands them to repent of their evil.(S)
11 If they obey and serve him,(T)
    they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity(U)
    and their years in contentment.(V)
12 But if they do not listen,
    they will perish by the sword[a](W)
    and die without knowledge.(X)

13 “The godless in heart(Y) harbor resentment;(Z)
    even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.(AA)
14 They die in their youth,(AB)
    among male prostitutes of the shrines.(AC)
15 But those who suffer(AD) he delivers in their suffering;(AE)
    he speaks(AF) to them in their affliction.(AG)

16 “He is wooing(AH) you from the jaws of distress
    to a spacious place(AI) free from restriction,(AJ)
    to the comfort of your table(AK) laden with choice food.(AL)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;(AM)
    judgment and justice have taken hold of you.(AN)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
    do not let a large bribe(AO) turn you aside.(AP)
19 Would your wealth(AQ) or even all your mighty efforts
    sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20 Do not long for the night,(AR)
    to drag people away from their homes.[b]
21 Beware of turning to evil,(AS)
    which you seem to prefer to affliction.(AT)

22 “God is exalted in his power.(AU)
    Who is a teacher like him?(AV)
23 Who has prescribed his ways(AW) for him,(AX)
    or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?(AY)
24 Remember to extol his work,(AZ)
    which people have praised in song.(BA)
25 All humanity has seen it;(BB)
    mortals gaze on it from afar.
26 How great is God—beyond our understanding!(BC)
    The number of his years is past finding out.(BD)

27 “He draws up the drops of water,(BE)
    which distill as rain to the streams[c];(BF)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
    and abundant showers(BG) fall on mankind.(BH)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
    how he thunders(BI) from his pavilion?(BJ)
30 See how he scatters his lightning(BK) about him,
    bathing the depths of the sea.(BL)
31 This is the way he governs[d] the nations(BM)
    and provides food(BN) in abundance.(BO)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
    and commands it to strike its mark.(BP)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;(BQ)
    even the cattle make known its approach.[e](BR)

Footnotes

  1. Job 36:12 Or will cross the river
  2. Job 36:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.
  3. Job 36:27 Or distill from the mist as rain
  4. Job 36:31 Or nourishes
  5. Job 36:33 Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil