Job 36
1Elihu continued on and said, 1
2“Permit me to speak a little longer, and I will show you some things 1 because I have a little more to say in defense of God. 1
3I will obtain my knowledge from far off; 1 I will acknowledge that righteousness belongs to my Maker. 1
4For indeed, my words will not be false; 1 someone who is mature in knowledge is with you. 1
5See, God is mighty, and despises no one; 1 he is mighty in strength of understanding. 1
6He does not preserve the life of wicked people 1 but instead does what is right for those who suffer. 1
7He does not withdraw his eyes from righteous people 1 but instead sets them on thrones like kings forever, 1 and they are lifted up. 1
8If they are bound in chains 1 and trapped in cords of suffering, 1
9then he reveals to them what they have done, 1 and their transgressions and their pride. 1
10He also opens their ears to his instruction, 1 and commands them to turn back from iniquity. 1
11If they listen to him and worship him, 1 they will spend their days in prosperity, 1 their years in contentment. 1
12However, if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword; 1 they will die because they have no knowledge. 1
13Those who are godless in heart store up their anger; 1 they do not cry out for help even when God ties them up. 1
14They die in their youth; 1 their lives end among the cultic prostitutes. 1
15God rescues afflicted people by means of their afflictions; 1 he opens their ears by means of their oppression. 1
16Indeed, he would like to draw you out of distress 1 into a broad place where there is no hardship 1 and where your table would be set with food full of fatness. 1
17But you are full of judgment on wicked people; 1 judgment and justice have laid hold of you. 1
18Do not let your anger entice you to mockery, 1 or the greatness of a ransom to turn you aside. 1
19Can your wealth benefit you, so that you will not be in distress, 1 or can all the force of your strength help you? 1
20Do not desire the night, to commit sin against others, 1 when peoples are cut off in their place. 1
21Be careful that you do not turn to sin 1 because you are being tested by suffering so that you will stay away from sinning. 1
22See, God is exalted in his power; 1 who is a teacher like him? 1
23Who has ever instructed him about his way? 1 Who can ever say to him, 'You have committed unrighteousness?' 1
24Remember to praise his deeds, 1 of which people have sung. 1
25All people have looked on those deeds, 1 but they see those deeds only from far away. 1
26See, God is great, but we do not understand him well; 1 the number of his years is incalculable. 1
27For he draws up the drops of water 1 that he distills as rain from his vapor, + 36:27 Some modern versions have that distill as rain from his vapor . 1
28which the clouds pour down 1 and drop in abundance on mankind. 1
29Indeed, can anyone understand the extensive spread of the clouds 1 and the thunder from his hut? 1
30See, he spreads his lightning around him 1 and covers the roots of the sea. 1
31In this way he judges the peoples 1 and gives food in abundance. 1
32He fills his hands with the lightning 1 until he commands it to strike its mark. 1
33Its thunder warns of the storm, 1 the cattle can also hear it is coming.