Study Desk

Then Elihu continued, saying:

Do you think it is just when you say, "I am righteous before God"?

For you ask, "What does it profit You,^[a] and what benefit comes to me, if I do not sin?"^(a)

I will answer you and your friends with you.

Look at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you.

If you sin, how does it affect God? If you multiply your transgressions, what does it do to Him?

If you are righteous, what do you give Him, or what does He receive from your hand?^(b)

Your wickedness affects a person like yourself, and your righteousness another human being.

People cry out because of severe oppression; they shout for help because of the arm of the mighty.^(c)

But no one asks, "Where is God my Maker,^(d) who provides us with songs in the night,^(e)

who gives us more understanding than the animals of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?"^(f)

There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.^(g)

Indeed, God does not listen to empty cries, and the Almighty does not take note of it—

how much less when^[b] you complain^[c] that you do not see Him, that your case^(h) is before Him and you are waiting⁽ⁱ⁾ for Him.

But now, because God's anger does not punish and He does not pay attention to transgression,^[d]

Job opens his mouth in vain and multiplies words without knowledge.^(j)

Then Elihu continued, saying:

Be patient with me a little longer, and I will inform you, for there is still more to be said on God's behalf.

I will get my knowledge from a distant place and ascribe justice to my Maker.

For my arguments are without flaw;^[a] one who has perfect knowledge is with you.

Yes, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He understands all things.^[b](a)

He does not keep the wicked alive,^(b) but He gives justice to the afflicted.

He does not remove His gaze from the righteous, but He seats them forever with enthroned kings, and they are exalted.

If people are bound with chains and trapped by the cords of affliction,

God tells them what they have done and how arrogantly they have transgressed.

He opens their ears^(c) to correction and insists they repent from iniquity.

If they serve Him obediently, they will end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.^(d)

But if they do not obey, they will cross the river of death^[c] and die without knowledge.^(e)

Those who have a godless heart harbor anger; even when God binds them, they do not cry for help.

They die in their youth; their life ends among male cult prostitutes.^(f)

God rescues the afflicted by their affliction; He instructs them by their torment.

Indeed, He lured you from the jaws^[d] of distress to a spacious and unconfined place. Your table was spread with choice food.

Yet now you are obsessed with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.

Be careful that no one lures you with riches;^[e] do not let a large ransom^[f] lead you astray.^(g)

Can your wealth^[g] or all your physical exertion keep you from distress?^(h)

Do not long for the night when nations will disappear from their places.

Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity, for that is why you have been tested by^[h] affliction.

Look, God shows Himself exalted by His power. Who is a teacher like Him?

Who has appointed His way for Him, and who has declared, "You have done wrong"?⁽ⁱ⁾

Remember that you should praise His work, which people have sung about.^(j)

All mankind has seen it; people have looked at it from a distance.^(k)

Yes, God is exalted beyond our knowledge;^(l) the number of His years cannot be counted.^(m)

For He makes waterdrops evaporate;^[i] they distill the rain into its^[j] mist,⁽ⁿ⁾

which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.

Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out or how the thunder roars from God's pavilion?^(o)

See how He spreads His lightning^(p) around Him and covers the depths of the sea.

For He judges the nations with these; He gives food in abundance.^(q)

He covers His hands with lightning and commands it to hit its mark.

The^[k] thunder declares His presence;^[l] the cattle also, the approaching storm.

My heart^(a) pounds at this and leaps from my chest.^[a]

Just listen to His thunderous voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.

He lets it loose beneath the entire sky; His lightning to the ends^(b) of the earth.

Then there comes a roaring sound; God thunders^(c) with His majestic voice. He does not restrain the lightning when His rumbling voice is heard.

God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things that we cannot comprehend.

For He says to the snow,^(d) "Fall to the earth," and the torrential rains, His mighty torrential rains,

serve as His sign to all mankind, so that all men may know His work.

The wild animals enter their lairs and stay in their dens.^(e)

The windstorm comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds.

Ice is formed by the breath of God,^(f) and watery expanses are frozen.

He saturates clouds with moisture;^(g) He scatters His lightning through them.

They swirl about, turning round and round at His direction, accomplishing everything He commands them over the surface of the inhabited world.

He causes this to happen for punishment, for His land, or for His faithful love.

Listen to this, Job. Stop and consider God's wonders.

Do you know how God directs His clouds or makes their lightning flash?

Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonderful works of Him who has perfect knowledge?

You whose clothes get hot when the south wind brings calm to the land,

can you help God spread out the skies as hard as a cast metal mirror?

Teach us what we should say to Him;^(h) we cannot prepare our case because of our darkness.

Should He be told that I want to speak? Can a man speak when he is confused?

Now men cannot even look at the sun when it is in the skies, after a wind has swept through and cleared them away.

Yet out of the north He comes, shrouded in a golden glow; awesome⁽ⁱ⁾ majesty surrounds Him.

The Almighty—we cannot reach Him— He is exalted in power! He will not oppress justice and abundant righteousness,

Therefore, men fear Him. He does not look favorably on any who are wise^(j) in heart.