Job 36 (Today's New International Version)

1 Elihu continued: 2 "Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God's behalf. 3 I get my knowledge from afar;¹ I will ascribe justice to my Maker.² 4 Be assured that my words are not false;³ one who has perfect knowledge⁴ is with you.⁵ 5 "God is mighty,⁶ but despises no one;⁷ he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.⁸ 6 He does not keep the wicked alive⁹ but gives the afflicted their rights.¹⁰ 7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous;¹¹ he enthrones them with kings¹² and exalts them forever.¹³ 8 But if people are bound in chains,¹⁴ held fast by cords of affliction,¹⁵ 9 he tells them what they have done-- that they have sinned arrogantly.¹⁶ 10 He makes them listen¹⁷ to correction¹⁸ and commands them to repent of their evil.¹⁹ 11 If they obey and serve him,²⁰ they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity²¹ and their years in contentment.²² 12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword^a23 and die without knowledge.²⁴ 13 "The godless in heart²⁵ harbor resentment;²⁶ even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.²⁷ 14 They die in their youth,²⁸ among male prostitutes of the shrines.²⁹ 15 But those who suffer³⁰ he delivers in their suffering;³¹ he speaks³² to them in their affliction.³³ 16 "He is wooing³⁴ you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place³⁵ free from restriction,³⁶ to the comfort of your table³⁷ laden with choice food.³⁸ 17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;³⁹ judgment and justice have taken hold of you.⁴⁰ 18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe⁴¹ turn you aside.⁴² 19 Would your wealth⁴³ or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress? 20 Do not long for the night,⁴⁴ to drag people away from their homes.^b 21 Beware of turning to evil,⁴⁵ which you seem to prefer to affliction.⁴⁶ 22 "God is exalted in his power.⁴⁷ Who is a teacher like him?⁴⁸ 23 Who has prescribed his ways⁴⁹ for him,⁵⁰ or said to him, 'You have done wrong'?⁵¹ 24 Remember to extol his work,⁵² which people have praised in song.⁵³ 25 All human beings have seen it;⁵⁴ mortals gaze on it from afar. 26 How great is God--beyond our understanding!⁵⁵ The number of his years is past finding out.⁵⁶ 27 "He draws up the drops of water,⁵⁷ which distill as rain to the streams^c;⁵⁸ 28 the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers⁵⁹ fall on the human race.⁶⁰ 29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders⁶¹ from his pavilion?⁶² 30 See how he scatters his lightning⁶³ about him, bathing the depths of the sea.⁶⁴ 31 This is the way he governs^d the nations⁶⁵ and provides food⁶⁶ in abundance.⁶⁷ 32 He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.⁶⁸ 33 His thunder announces the coming storm;⁶⁹ even the cattle make known its approach.^e70