36:1 Elihu continued:

36:2 "Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God's behalf.

36:3 I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker.

36:4 Be assured that my words are not false; one perfect in knowledge is with you.

36:5 "God is mighty, but does not despise men; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.

36:6 He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights.

36:7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.

36:8 But if men are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction,

36:9 he tells them what they have done--that they have sinned arrogantly.

36:10 He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.

36:11 If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.

36:12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

36:13 "The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.

36:14 They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines.

36:15 But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.

36:16 "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.

36:17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you.

36:18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.

36:19 Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?

36:20 Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes.

36:21 Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.

36:22 "God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

36:23 Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, 'You have done wrong'?

36:24 Remember to extol his work, which men have praised in song.

36:25 All mankind has seen it; men gaze on it from afar.

36:26 How great is God--beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.

36:27 "He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams;

36:28 the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.

36:29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?

36:30 See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.

36:31 This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance.

36:32 He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.

36:33 His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach.