Study Desk

Then Elihu said:

"Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I am in the right,^(a) not God.'^(b)

Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,^[a] and what do I gain by not sinning?'^(c)

"I would like to reply to you and to your friends with you.

Look up at the heavens^(d) and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you.^(e)

If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him?^(f)

If you are righteous, what do you give to him,^(g) or what does he receive^(h) from your hand?⁽ⁱ⁾

Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,^(j) and your righteousness only other people.^(k)

"People cry out^(l) under a load of oppression;^(m) they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.⁽ⁿ⁾

But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,^(o) who gives songs^(p) in the night,^(q)

who teaches^(r) us^(s) more than he teaches^[b] the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than^[c] the birds in the sky?'

He does not answer^(t) when people cry out because of the arrogance^(u) of the wicked.^(v)

Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea; the Almighty pays no attention to it.^(w)

How much less, then, will he listen when you say that you do not see him,^(x) that your case^(y) is before him and you must wait for him,^(z)

and further, that his anger never punishes^(aa) and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.^[d](ab)

So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;^(ac) without knowledge he multiplies words."^(ad)

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;^(a) I will ascribe justice to my Maker.^(b)

Be assured that my words are not false;^(c) one who has perfect knowledge^(d) is with you.^(e)

"God is mighty,^(f) but despises no one;^(g) he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.^(h)

He does not keep the wicked alive⁽ⁱ⁾ but gives the afflicted their rights.^(j)

He does not take his eyes off the righteous;^(k) he enthrones them with kings^(l) and exalts them forever.^(m)

But if people are bound in chains,⁽ⁿ⁾ held fast by cords of affliction,^(o)

he tells them what they have done— that they have sinned arrogantly.^(p)

He makes them listen^(q) to correction^(r) and commands them to repent of their evil.^(s)

If they obey and serve him,^(t) they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity^(u) and their years in contentment.^(v)

But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword^[a](w) and die without knowledge.^(x)

"The godless in heart^(y) harbor resentment;^(z) even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.^(aa)

They die in their youth,^(ab) among male prostitutes of the shrines.^(ac)

But those who suffer^(ad) he delivers in their suffering;^(ae) he speaks^(af) to them in their affliction.^(ag)

"He is wooing^(ah) you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place^(ai) free from restriction,^(aj) to the comfort of your table^(ak) laden with choice food.^(al)

But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;^(am) judgment and justice have taken hold of you.^(an)

Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe^(ao) turn you aside.^(ap)

Would your wealth^(aq) or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?

Do not long for the night,^(ar) to drag people away from their homes.^[b]

Beware of turning to evil,^(as) which you seem to prefer to affliction.^(at)

"God is exalted in his power.^(au) Who is a teacher like him?^(av)

Who has prescribed his ways^(aw) for him,^(ax) or said to him, ‘You have done wrong'?^(ay)

Remember to extol his work,^(az) which people have praised in song.^(ba)

All humanity has seen it;^(bb) mortals gaze on it from afar.

How great is God—beyond our understanding!^(bc) The number of his years is past finding out.^(bd)

"He draws up the drops of water,^(be) which distill as rain to the streams^[c];^(bf)

the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers^(bg) fall on mankind.^(bh)

Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders^(bi) from his pavilion?^(bj)

See how he scatters his lightning^(bk) about him, bathing the depths of the sea.^(bl)

This is the way he governs^[d] the nations^(bm) and provides food^(bn) in abundance.^(bo)

He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.^(bp)

His thunder announces the coming storm;^(bq) even the cattle make known its approach.^[e](br)

"At this my heart pounds^(a) and leaps from its place.

Listen!^(b) Listen to the roar of his voice,^(c) to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.^(d)

He unleashes his lightning^(e) beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.^(f)

After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders^(g) with his majestic voice.^(h) When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.

God's voice thunders⁽ⁱ⁾ in marvelous ways;^(j) he does great things beyond our understanding.^(k)

He says to the snow,^(l) ‘Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.'^(m)

So that everyone he has made may know his work,⁽ⁿ⁾ he stops all people from their labor.^[a](o)

The animals take cover;^(p) they remain in their dens.^(q)

The tempest comes out from its chamber,^(r) the cold from the driving winds.^(s)

The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.^(t)

He loads the clouds with moisture;^(u) he scatters his lightning^(v) through them.^(w)

At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.^(x)

He brings the clouds to punish people,^(y) or to water his earth and show his love.^(z)

"Listen^(aa) to this, Job; stop and consider God's wonders.^(ab)

Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning^(ac) flash?^(ad)

Do you know how the clouds hang poised,^(ae) those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?^(af)

You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind,^(ag)

can you join him in spreading out the skies,^(ah) hard as a mirror of cast bronze?^(ai)

"Tell us what we should say to him;^(aj) we cannot draw up our case^(ak) because of our darkness.^(al)

Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?

Now no one can look at the sun,^(am) bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.

Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;^(an) God comes in awesome majesty.^(ao)

The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;^(ap) in his justice^(aq) and great righteousness, he does not oppress.^(ar)

Therefore, people revere him,^(as) for does he not have regard for all the wise^(at) in heart?^[b]"