Chapter 36
1And Elihu continued: 2“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf. 3I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker. 4For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you. 5Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding. 6He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted. 7He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever. 8And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction, 9then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed. 10He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity. 11If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness. 12But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge. 13The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help. 14They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes. 15God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression. 16Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness. 17But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you. 18Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray. 19Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress? 20Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes. 21Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction. 22Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him? 23Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’? 24Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song. 25All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar. 26Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable. 27For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist, 28which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind. 29Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion? 30See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea. 31For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance. 32He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. 33The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.
Chapter 37
1“At this my heart also pounds and leaps from its place. 2Listen closely to the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth. 3He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth. 4Then there comes a roaring sound; He thunders with His majestic voice. He does not restrain the lightning when His voice resounds. 5God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend. 6For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’ 7He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work. 8The wild animals enter their lairs; they settle down in their dens. 9The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds. 10By the breath of God the ice is formed and the watery expanses are frozen. 11He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His lightning through them. 12They swirl about, whirling at His direction, accomplishing all that He commands over the face of all the earth. 13Whether for punishment or for His land, He accomplishes this in His loving devotion. 14Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wonders of God. 15Do you know how God dispatches the clouds or makes the lightning flash? 16Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge? 17You whose clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind, 18can you, like Him, spread out the skies, as strong as a mirror of bronze? 19Teach 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 a man ask to be swallowed up ? 21Now no one can gaze at the sun when it is bright in the skies after the wind has swept them clean. 22Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him. 23The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress. 24Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”