1Elihu proceeded by saying, 2“Bear with me a little longer, for there is yet more to say on God's behalf. 3I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 4Be assured that my words are not false; he that is perfect in knowledge is with you.

5“Behold, God is mighty, but He does not despise anyone; He is mighty in strength and wisdom. 6He does not preserve the life of the wicked; but gives justice to the poor. 7He does not take His eyes off the righteous; but they are seated with kings on the throne; He establishes them forever, and they are exalted. 8And if they are bound in fetters, and held in cords of affliction, 9Then He points out to them their sinful or arrogant deeds. 10He gets their attention, and commands that they return from iniquity. 11If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 12But if they refuse to obey, they shall pass to the grave, and shall die in their ignorance. 13The godless resent His correction; and will not humble themselves or ask for His help when He chastens them. 14They often die young, squandering their health and life with immoral and unclean lifestyles. 15He rescues those in affliction, teaching them in their adversity.

16“God is leading you away from danger, Job, into a place free from distress. 17But you have obsessed over the judgment of the wicked; the issue of justice has seized you. 18Do not let your anger and pain lead you to resent or criticize God. 19Could all your wealth or your great efforts sustain you or alleviate your distress? 20And do not long for night; for with it come opportunities for crime; and people perish. 21Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to think is preferable to your affliction.

22“Look, God is exalted and all-powerful; who can teach like He does?

23“Who tells Him what He should do? Or who can tell Him, ‘You have done wrong’?

24Remember that you are to glorify and praise His work, which men see. 25Every man may see what He has done; but man may watch only from a distance. 26Behold, God is great, beyond our comprehension, neither can the number of His years be known. 27For He takes up the water vapor; and then distills it into rain for the streams, 28Which the clouds pour in abundant showers upon mankind. 29Can anyone understand the cloud patterns, or the distribution of lightning and thunder from His canopy? 30Look how He spreads His lightning about Him, and lights up the depths of the sea. 31For by these mighty acts He rules the world; He gives food in abundance. 32With clouds He covers the light (sun); and commands the lightning bolt to strike its mark. 33Its thundering voice tells of His presence; and the cattle also know of the coming storm.