Elihu Extols God’s Greatness

36 Then[fn] Elihu continued and said,

• 2 “Bear with me a little longer, and I will explain ,[fn] for I still have something to say on God’s behalf .[fn]
• 3 I will bring my knowledge from far away, and I will ascribe righteousness to my maker,
• 4 for truly my words[fn] are not falsehood; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.[fn]
• 5 Look, God is mighty but[fn] does not despise anyone; he is mighty and good in understanding .[fn]
• 6 He does not keep the wicked alive but[fn] grants justice to the afflicted.
• 7 He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but[fn] he sets them forever with kings on the throne, and they are exalted.
• 8 “And if they are tied up with fetters, if they are caught in the cords of misery,
• 9 then[fn] he declares their work to them, and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.
• 10 So[fn] he opens their ear to the discipline, and he commands that they return from mischief.
• 11 If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness.
• 12 But[fn] if they do not listen, they perish by the sword, and they pass away without knowledge.
• 13 And the godless of heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them.
• 14 They die in their youth ,[fn] and their life ends among the male shrine prostitutes.
• 15 He delivers the afflicted by his misery, and he opens their ears by the adversity.
• 16 And what’s more, he allured you out of distress[fn] into a broad place, where in place of it was no constraint;
• and what was set on your table is full of fatness.
• 17 But[fn] you are obsessed with the judgment of the wicked; judgment and justice take hold of you.
• 18 Yes,[fn] it is wrath, so that it will not incite you into mockery; and do not let the ransom’s greatness turn you aside.
• 19 Will your cry for help sustain you without distress, or[fn] all the efforts of your strength?
• 20 You must not long for the night, to cut off people in their place .[fn]
• 21 Take care, you must not turn to mischief, for because of this you have been tried by misery.
• 22 “Look, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?
• 23 Who has prescribed his way for him? Or[fn] who says, ‘You have done wrong’?
• 24 Remember that you should extol his work, of which people have sung.
• 25 All human beings have looked on it; everyone watches from afar.
• 26 “Look, God is exalted, and we do not know him; the number of his years is unsearchable.
• 27 Indeed, he draws up the drops of water; he distills the rain into its mist,
• 28 which the clouds pour down; they shower abundantly on human beings.
• 29 “Moreover, can anyone understand[fn] the spreading of clouds, the thundering of his dwelling place?
• 30 Look, he scatters his lightning around him, and he covers the roots of the sea.
• 31 Indeed, he judges people by them; he gives food in abundance .[fn]
• 32 He covers his hands with lightning, and he commands it the place at which to strike.
• 33 His thundering tells about him; the livestock also tell concerning what rises .[fn]