Dual Panel1Here Elihu took a deep breath, but kept going:
2"Stay with me a little longer. I'll convince you. There's still more to be said on God's side.
3I learned all this firsthand from the Source; everything I know about justice I owe to my Maker himself.
4Trust me, I'm giving you undiluted truth; believe me, I know these things inside and out.
5"It's true that God is all-powerful, but he doesn't bully innocent people.
6For the wicked, though, it's a different story--he doesn't give them the time of day, but champions the rights of their victims.
7He never takes his eyes off the righteous; he honors them lavishly, promotes them endlessly.
8When things go badly, when affliction and suffering descend,
9God tells them where they've gone wrong, shows them how their pride has caused their trouble.
10He forces them to heed his warning, tells them they must repent of their bad life.
11If they obey and serve him, they'll have a good, long life on easy street.
12But if they disobey, they'll be cut down in their prime and never know the first thing about life.
13Angry people without God pile grievance upon grievance, always blaming others for their troubles.
14Living it up in sexual excesses, virility wasted, they die young.
15But those who learn from their suffering, God delivers from their suffering.
16"Oh, Job, don't you see how God's wooing you from the jaws of danger? How he's drawing you into wide-open places--inviting you to feast at a table laden with blessings?
17And here you are laden with the guilt of the wicked, obsessed with putting the blame on God!
18Don't let your great riches mislead you; don't think you can bribe your way out of this.
19Did you plan to buy your way out of this? Not on your life!
20And don't think that night, when people sleep off their troubles, will bring you any relief.
21Above all, don't make things worse with more evil--that's what's behind your suffering as it is!
22"Do you have any idea how powerful God is? Have you ever heard of a teacher like him?
23Has anyone ever had to tell him what to do, or correct him, saying, 'You did that all wrong!'?
24Remember, then, to praise his workmanship, which is so often celebrated in song.
25Everybody sees it; nobody is too far away to see it.
26"Take a long, hard look. See how great he is--infinite, greater than anything you could ever imagine or figure out!
27"He pulls water up out of the sea, distills it, and fills up his rain-cloud cisterns.
28Then the skies open up and pour out soaking showers on everyone.
29Does anyone have the slightest idea how this happens? How he arranges the clouds, how he speaks in thunder?
30Just look at that lightning, his sky-filling light show illumining the dark depths of the sea!
31These are the symbols of his sovereignty, his generosity, his loving care.
32He hurls arrows of light, taking sure and accurate aim.
33The High God roars in the thunder, angry against evil.