JOB 36 [†]And Elihu continued, and said:

2[†] “Bear with me a little, and I will show you,

for I have yet something to say on God’s behalf.

3 I will get my knowledge from  o afar

and ascribe  p righteousness to my  q Maker.

4 For truly my words are not false;

one who is  r perfect in knowledge is with you.

5[†] “Behold, God is mighty, and  s does not despise any;

he is  t mighty in strength of understanding.

6[†] He does not keep the wicked alive,

but gives  u the afflicted their right.

7 He does not withdraw his  v eyes from the righteous,

but with  w kings on the throne

he sets them forever, and they are  x exalted.

8[†] And if they are  y bound in chains

and caught in the cords of affliction,

9 then he declares to them their work

and their transgressions, that they are  z behaving arrogantly.

10[†] He  a opens their ears to instruction

and commands that they  b return from iniquity.

11  c If they listen and serve him,

they  d complete their days in prosperity,

and their years in pleasantness.

12 But if they do not listen, they  e perish by the sword

and die  f without knowledge.

13[†] “The  g godless in heart cherish anger;

they do not cry for help when he  h binds them.

14 They  i die in youth,

and their life ends among the cult prostitutes.

15 He delivers  j the afflicted by their affliction

and  k opens their ear by adversity.

16[†] He also allured you out of distress

into  l a broad place where there was no cramping,

and what was set on your  m table was full of  n fatness.

17 “But you are full of the judgment on the wicked;

judgment and justice seize you.

18[†] Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing,

and let not the greatness of  o the ransom turn you aside.

19 Will your  p cry for help avail to keep you from distress,

or all the force of your strength?

20 Do not long for  q the night,

when peoples vanish  r in their place.

21 Take care;  s do not turn to iniquity,

for this you have chosen rather than affliction.

22[†] Behold, God is exalted in his power;

who is  t a teacher like him?

23 Who has  u prescribed for him his way,

or who can say,  v ‘You have done wrong’?

24 “Remember to  w extol his work,

of which men have  x sung.

25 All mankind has looked on it;

man beholds it from afar.

26 Behold, God is great, and we  y know him not;

the number of his  z years is unsearchable.

27 For he draws up the drops of water;

they distill his  a mist in  b rain,

28 which  c the skies pour down

and drop on mankind abundantly.

29 Can anyone understand  d the spreading of the clouds,

the thunderings of his  e pavilion?

30[†] Behold, he scatters his lightning about him

and covers the roots of the sea.

31[†] For by these he  f judges peoples;

he gives  g food in abundance.

32[†] He covers his  h hands with the lightning

and commands it to strike the mark.

33 Its crashing declares his presence; [1]

the cattle also declare that he rises.