Job 36 · Clearspring

Elihu Describes God’s Power

¹And Elihu continued:+ ²“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.+ ³I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.+ ⁴For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.+ ⁵Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.+ ⁶He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.+ ⁷He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.+ ⁸And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,+ ⁹then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.+ ¹⁰He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.+ ¹¹If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.+ ¹²But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.+ ¹³The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.+ ¹⁴They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.+ ¹⁵God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.+ ¹⁶Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.+ ¹⁷But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.+ ¹⁸Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.+ ¹⁹Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?+ ²⁰Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.+ ²¹Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.+ ²²Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?+ ²³Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?+ ²⁴Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.+ ²⁵All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar. ²⁶Indeed, God is great — beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.+ ²⁷For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,+ ²⁸which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.+ ²⁹Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?+ ³⁰See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.+ ³¹For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.+ ³²He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.+ ³³The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.’’+

Elihu Describes God’s Power

Study Job 36