Job 36

1Elihu also continued, and said, 2for I still have something to say on God’s behalf. “Bear with me a little, and I will show you; 3and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. I will get my knowledge from afar, 4One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. For truly my words are not false. 5He is mighty in strength of understanding. “Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. 6but gives to the afflicted their right. He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, 7but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted. He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, 8and are taken in the cords of afflictions, If they are bound in fetters, 9and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly. then he shows them their work, 10and commands that they return from iniquity. He also opens their ears to instruction, 11they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. If they listen and serve him, 12they shall die without knowledge. But if they don’t listen, they shall perish by the sword; 13They don’t cry for help when he binds them. “But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. 14Their life perishes among the unclean. They die in youth. 15and opens their ear in oppression. He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, 16into a wide place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness. Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, 17Judgment and justice take hold of you. “But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. 18neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside. Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, 19or all the might of your strength? Would your wealth sustain you in distress, 20when people are cut off in their place. Don’t desire the night, 21for you have chosen this rather than affliction. Take heed, don’t regard iniquity; 22Who is a teacher like him? Behold, God is exalted in his power. 23Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness?’ Who has prescribed his way for him? 24whereof men have sung. “Remember that you magnify his work, 25Man sees it afar off. All men have looked on it. 26The number of his years is unsearchable. Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. 27which distill in rain from his vapor, For he draws up the drops of water, 28and which drop on man abundantly. Which the skies pour down 29and the thunderings of his pavilion? Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, 30He covers the bottom of the sea. Behold, he spreads his light around him. 31He gives food in abundance. For by these he judges the people. 32and commands it to strike the mark. He covers his hands with the lightning, 33and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up. Its noise tells about him,