Reason for continuing

¹Continuing, Elihu said,

²Wait a little while so I can demonstrate for you

that there is still something more to say about God.

³I will draw from my broad knowledge,

attribute justice to my maker.

⁴My words are certainly truthful;

one with total knowledge is present with you.

Divine discipline

⁵Look, God is mighty and doesn’t reject anyone;

he is mighty in strength and mind.

⁶He doesn’t let the wicked live,

but grants justice to the poor.

⁷He doesn’t avert his eyes from the righteous;

he seats kings on thrones forever,

⁸If they are tied with ropes,

⁹he informs them about their offenses

¹⁰He opens their ears with discipline

and commands them to turn from wrong.

¹¹If they listen and serve,

they spend their days in plenty,

their years contentedly.

¹²But if they don’t listen,

they perish by the sword,

breathe their last without understanding.

¹³Those with impious hearts become furious;

they don’t cry out even though he binds them.

¹⁴They die young;

they are among the holy ones.

¹⁵He saves the weak in their affliction,

opens their ears through oppression.

¹⁶Surely he draws you up from the brink of trouble

to a wide place without distress;

your table is set with rich food.

¹⁷You are overly concerned about the case of the wicked;

justice will be upheld in it.

¹⁸Don’t let them lure you with wealth;

don’t let a huge bribe mislead you.

¹⁹Will he arrange your rescue from distress

or from all your exertions of strength?

²⁰Don’t wish for the night

when people vanish from their place.

²¹Take care; don’t turn to evil

because you’ve chosen it over affliction.

²²Look, God is inaccessible due to his power;

who is a teacher like him?

²³Who has repaid him for his action,

and who would ever say, “You’ve done wrong”?

²⁴Remember to praise his work

that all of us have seen.

²⁵Every person has seen him;

people can observe at great distance.

God’s control of the storm

²⁶Look, God is exalted and unknowable;

the number of his years is beyond counting.

²⁷He draws up drops of water

²⁸the clouds pour moisture

²⁹Even if one perceives a spreading cloud

³⁰look how he spreads lightning across it

³¹for by water he judges peoples[#36.31 Or them]

³²He conceals lightning in his palms

and orders it to its target.

³³His thunder announces it;

even cattle proclaim its rising.