Job 36

Tree of Life Version

² “Be patient with me a bit longer and I will show you
    that there is more to say on God’s behalf.
³ I get my knowledge from afar;
    I ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
⁴ For truly, my words are not false;
    One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

⁵ “Indeed, God is mighty, but despises none,
He is mighty in strength of understanding.
⁶ He does not keep the wicked alive,
    but gives justice to the afflicted.
⁷ He does not take His eyes from the righteous,
but enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
⁸ But if they are bound in chains,
    and held captive by cords of affliction,
⁹ then He declares to them their deed
    that they have transgressed arrogantly.
¹⁰ And He opens their ear to instruction,
    and commands that they turn from evil.
¹¹ If they obey and serve, they will end their days in prosperity,
    and their years in happiness.
¹² But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword,
    and die without knowledge.

¹³ “The godless in heart harbor anger,
    they do not cry for help even when He binds them.
¹⁴ Their souls die in youth,
    their life ends among cult prostitutes.
¹⁵ He delivers the afflicted by his affliction
    and opens their ear in oppression.

¹⁶ “And indeed, He will draw you from the mouth of distress,
to a spacious place without constraint, and the comfort of a table full of rich food.
¹⁷ But you are full of judgment on the wicked,
    judgment and justice take hold of you!
¹⁸ Beware lest wrath entice you with riches;
    or a large bribe turn you aside.
¹⁹ Will your wealth sustain you to keep you from distress,
    or even all your mighty efforts?
²⁰ Do not long for the night,
    when people vanish from their places.
²¹ Be careful, do not turn to iniquity;
    for you have chosen this rather than affliction.

²² “Indeed, God is exalted in His power.
    Who is a teacher like Him?
²³ Who has prescribed His way for Him?
    Or said ‘You have done wrong’?
²⁴ Remember to magnify His work,
    of which people have sung.
²⁵ All mankind has seen it;
    people gaze on it from afar.
²⁶ Behold, God is exalted—beyond our knowledge!
    The number of His years is unsearchable.
²⁷ For He draws up the drops of water;
    they distill rain into its mist,
²⁸ which the clouds pour down
    and shower mankind abundantly.
²⁹ Indeed, who can understand the spreading of the clouds,
    and the thunder from His pavilion?

³⁰ “See how He scatters His lightning about Him,
    covering the depths of the sea.
³¹ For by these, He judges peoples
    and supplies food in abundance.
³² He covers His hands with lightning
    and commands it to strike its target.
³³ His thunder declares His presence,
    the cattle also, about what is coming.