Study

36. Elihu Continues

    ² “Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
   that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
³ I get my knowledge from afar;
   I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
⁴ Be 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.
⁶ He does not keep the wicked alive
   but gives the afflicted their rights.
⁷ He does not take his eyes off the righteous;
   he enthrones them with kings
   and exalts them forever.
⁸ But if people are bound in chains,
   held fast by cords of affliction,
⁹ he tells them what they have done—
   that they have sinned arrogantly.
¹⁰ He makes them listen to correction
   and commands them to repent of their evil.
¹¹ If they obey and serve him,
   they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity
   and their years in contentment.
¹² But 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.
¹⁴ They die in their youth,
   among male prostitutes of the shrines.
¹⁵ But 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.
¹⁷ But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;
   judgment and justice have taken hold of you.
¹⁸ Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
   do not let a large bribe turn you aside.
¹⁹ Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts
   sustain you so you would not be in distress?
²⁰ Do not long for the night,
   to drag people away from their homes. The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.
²¹ Beware of turning to evil,
   which you seem to prefer to affliction.

    ²² “God is exalted in his power.
   Who is a teacher like him?
²³ Who has prescribed his ways for him,
   or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?
²⁴ Remember to extol his work,
   which people have praised in song.
²⁵ All humanity has seen it;
   mortals gaze on it from afar.
²⁶ How 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;
²⁸ the clouds pour down their moisture
   and abundant showers fall on mankind.
²⁹ Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
   how he thunders from his pavilion?
³⁰ See how he scatters his lightning about him,
   bathing the depths of the sea.
³¹ This is the way he governs Or nourishes the nations
   and provides food in abundance.
³² He fills his hands with lightning
   and commands it to strike its mark.
³³ His thunder announces the coming storm;
   even the cattle make known its approach. Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil