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Job 36 (AMP)

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¹ ELIHU PROCEEDED and said, ² Bear with me and wait a little longer, and I will show you, for I have something still to say on God's behalf. ³ I will bring my knowledge from afar and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. ⁴ For truly my words shall not be false; He Who is perfect in knowledge is with you. ⁵ Behold! God is mighty, and yet despises no one nor regards anything as trivial; He is mighty in power of understanding and heart. ⁶ He does not prolong the life of the wicked, but gives the needy and afflicted their right. ⁷ He withdraws not His eyes from the righteous (the upright in right standing with God); but He sets them forever with kings upon the throne, and they are exalted. ⁸ And if they are bound in fetters and held by cords of affliction, ⁹ Then He shows to them their deeds and their transgressions, that they have acted arrogantly . ¹⁰ He also opens their ears to instruction and discipline, and commands that they return from iniquity. ¹¹ If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness and joy. ¹² But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword , and they shall die in ignorance of true knowledge. ¹³ But the godless and profane in heart heap up anger ; they do not cry to Him when He binds them . ¹⁴ They die in youth, and their life perishes among the unclean (those who are sodomites). ¹⁵ He delivers the afflicted in their affliction and opens their ears in adversity. ¹⁶ Indeed, God would have allured you out of the mouth of distress into a broad place where there is no situation of perplexity or privation; and that which would be set on your table would be full of fatness. ¹⁷ But if you are filled with the judgment of the wicked, judgment and justice will keep hold on you. ¹⁸ For let not wrath entice you into scorning chastisements; and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside. ¹⁹ Will your cry be sufficient to keep you from distress, or will all the force of your strength do it? ²⁰ Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off from their places; ²¹ Take heed, turn not to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction. ²² Behold, God exalts and does loftily in His power; who is a ruler or a teacher like Him? ²³ Who has appointed God His way? Or who can say, You have done unrighteousness? ²⁴ Remember that you magnify God's work, of which men have sung. ²⁵ All men have looked upon God's work; man may behold it afar off. ²⁶ Behold, God is great, and we know Him not! The number of His years is unsearchable. ²⁷ For He draws up the drops of water, which distil as rain from His vapor, ²⁸ Which the skies pour down and drop abundantly upon mankind. ²⁹ Not only that, but can anyone understand the spreadings of the clouds or the thunderings of His pavilion? ³⁰ Behold, He spreads His lightning against the dark clouds and covers the roots of the sea. ³¹ For by God executes judgment upon the peoples; He gives food in abundance. ³² He covers His hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark. ³³ His thunderings speak concerning Him; the cattle are told of His coming storm.