Job
36
- Elihu continued:
- "Bear with me a little longer and I
will show you that there is more to be said in God's behalf.
- I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe
justice to my Maker.
- Be assured that my words are not false;
one perfect in knowledge is with you.
- "God is mighty, but does not despise
men; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.
- He does not keep the wicked alive but gives
the afflicted their rights.
- He does not take his eyes off the righteous;
he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
- But if men are bound in chains, held fast
by cords of affliction,
- he tells them what they have done -- that
they have sinned arrogantly.
- He makes them listen to correction and commands
them to repent of their evil.
- If they obey and serve him, they will spend
the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.
- But if they do not listen, they will perish
by the sword and die without knowledge.
- "The godless in heart harbor resentment;
even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.
- They die in their youth, among male prostitutes
of the shrines.
- But those who suffer he delivers in their
suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.
- "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.
- But now you are laden with the judgment
due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you.
- Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
do not let a large bribe turn you aside.
- Would your wealth or even all your mighty
efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress ?
- Do not long for the night, to drag people
away from their homes.
- Beware of turning to evil, which you seem
to prefer to affliction.
- "God is exalted in his power. Who is
a teacher like him ?
- Who has prescribed his ways for him, or
said to him, 'You have done wrong' ?
- Remember to extol his work, which men have
praised in song.
- All mankind has seen it; men gaze on it
from afar.
- How great is God -- beyond our understanding!
The number of his years is past finding out.
- "He draws up the drops of water, which
distill as rain to the streams;
- the clouds pour down their moisture and
abundant showers fall on mankind.
- Who can understand how he spreads out the
clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion ?
- See how he scatters his lightning about
him, bathing the depths of the sea.
- This is the way he governs the nations and
provides food in abundance.
- He fills his hands with lightning and commands
it to strike its mark.
- His thunder announces the coming storm;
even the cattle make known its approach.
Back |
Home |
Next