JobChapter 36

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¹Elihu kept speaking. He said, ²"Be patient with me a little longer.
I will show you there is more to say for God. ³I get my knowledge from far away.
I will show that my Maker is fair. ⁴My words are truly not false.
One who knows things perfectly is with you. ⁵Yes, God is mighty, but he does not hate anyone.
He is mighty and strong in understanding. ⁶He does not let the wicked go on living.
But he gives justice to those who suffer. ⁷He does not take his eyes off people who do right.
He seats them on thrones with kings.
He lifts them up forever. ⁸But suppose people are tied up in chains.
Suppose they are caught in ropes of suffering. ⁹Then God tells them what they have done.
He shows them how proudly they have sinned. ¹⁰He opens their ears to hear his correction.
He commands them to turn away from sin. ¹¹If they obey and serve him,
they will spend the rest of their days doing well.
They will spend their years being happy. ¹²But if they do not obey,
they will perish by the sword.
They will die without knowing better. ¹³People with godless hearts hold on to anger.
Even when God ties them up, they don't cry for help. ¹⁴They die while they are young.
They die among the male shrine prostitutes. ¹⁵God saves those who suffer through their suffering.
He opens their ears when they are treated cruelly. ¹⁶Yes, he pulled you out of the jaws of trouble
into a wide, open place.
He set a table for you full of rich food. ¹⁷But now you are loaded down with the judgment that wicked people deserve.
Judgment and justice have taken hold of you. ¹⁸Be careful that no one tempts you with riches.
Don't let a big bribe lead you the wrong way. ¹⁹Can your riches keep you out of trouble?
Can all your mighty efforts do it? ²⁰Don't wish for the night to come,
when people disappear from their homes. ²¹Be careful not to turn to sin,
for you have chosen sin instead of suffering. ²²Look, God is lifted high in his power.
Who is a teacher like him? ²³Who has told him which way to go?
Who has said to him, 'You have done wrong'? ²⁴Remember to praise his work.
People have praised it in songs. ²⁵All people have seen it.
They look at it from far away. ²⁶Yes, God is great, more than we can know.
No one can count the number of his years. ²⁷He pulls up drops of water.
They turn into rain from the mist. ²⁸The clouds pour down the rain.
They shower lots of rain on people. ²⁹Who can understand how the clouds spread out?
Who knows how the thunder roars from his tent? ³⁰See how he spreads his lightning around him.
He covers the bottom of the sea. ³¹This is how he judges the nations.
This is how he gives plenty of food. ³²He fills his hands with lightning.
He commands it to hit its target. ³³The thunder tells that he is near.
Even the cattle know the storm is coming.