Job 35-36

Common English Bible

² Do you think it right?
    You say, “I’m more just than God.”
³ Yet you ask, “What does it benefit you?
    What have I gained by avoiding sin?”
⁴ I’ll answer you,
    and your friends along with you.
⁵ Look at the heavens and see;
    scan the clouds high over you.
⁶ If you’ve sinned, how have you affected God?
    Your offenses have multiplied;
    what have you done to him?
⁷ If you are righteous,
    what do you give to him?
    Or what does he receive from your hand?
⁸ Your evil affects others like you,
    and your righteousness affects fellow human beings.
⁹ People cry out because of heavy oppression;
    shout under the power of the mighty.
¹⁰ But no one says, “Where is God my maker;
    who gives songs in the night;
¹¹     who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
    makes us wiser than the birds in the sky?”
¹² Then they cry out; but he doesn’t answer,
    because of the pride of the wicked.
¹³ God certainly doesn’t respond to a deceitful cry;
    the Almighty doesn’t pay attention to it.
¹⁴ Although you say that you don’t see him,
    the case is before him;
    so wait anxiously for him.
¹⁵ Even though his anger is now held back,
    a person doesn’t know it’s only delayed.^[a]
16 So Job mouths emptiness;
    he piles up ignorant words.

² Wait a little while so I can demonstrate for you
    that there is still something more to say about God.
³ I will draw from my broad knowledge,
    attribute justice to my maker.
⁴ My words are certainly truthful;
    one with total knowledge is present with you.

⁵ Look, God is mighty and doesn’t reject anyone;
    he is mighty in strength and mind.
⁶ He doesn’t let the wicked live,
    but grants justice to the poor.
⁷ He doesn’t avert his eyes from the righteous;
    he seats kings on thrones forever,
        and they are lifted up.
⁸ If they are tied with ropes,
        caught in cords of affliction,
⁹     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.

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,^[b]
30     look how he spreads lightning across it
        and covers the seabed;
³¹     for by water^[c] 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.