Job 36-37

1Elihu continued:

2“Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.

3I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker.

4Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.

5“God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.

6He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights.

7He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.

8But if people are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction,

9he tells them what they have done— that they have sinned arrogantly.

10He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.

11If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.

12But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword Or will cross the river and die without knowledge.

13“The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.

14They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines.

15But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.

16“He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.

17But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you.

18Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.

19Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?

20Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes. The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.

21Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.

22“God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

23Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?

24Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song.

25All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar.

26How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.

27“He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams Or distill from the mist as rain ;

28the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.

29Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?

30See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.

31This is the way he governs Or nourishes the nations and provides food in abundance.

32He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. 33His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach. Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil

1“At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.

2Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.

3He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.

4After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.

5God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.

6He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’

7So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor. Or work, / he fills all people with fear by his power

8The animals take cover; they remain in their dens.

9The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.

10The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.

11He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them.

12At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.

13He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love.

14“Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.

15Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?

16Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?

17You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind,

18can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?

19“Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.

20Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?

21Now no one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.

22Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.

23The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress. 24Therefore, people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart? Or for he does not have regard for any who think they are wise. ”