| 章 |
| 36:1 |
Elihu continued:
|
| 36:2 |
"Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God's behalf.
|
| 36:3 |
I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
|
| 36:4 |
Be assured that my words are not false; one perfect in knowledge is with you.
|
| 36:5 |
"God is mighty, but does not despise men; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.
|
| 36:6 |
He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights.
|
| 36:7 |
He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
|
| 36:8 |
But if men are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction,
|
| 36:9 |
he tells them what they have done-- that they have sinned arrogantly.
|
| 36:10 |
He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.
|
| 36:11 |
If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.
|
| 36:12 |
But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
|
| 36:13 |
"The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.
|
| 36:14 |
They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines.
|
| 36:15 |
But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.
|
| 36:16 |
"He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.
|
| 36:17 |
But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you.
|
| 36:18 |
Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.
|
| 36:19 |
Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?
|
| 36:20 |
Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes.
|
| 36:21 |
Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.
|
| 36:22 |
"God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
|
| 36:23 |
Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, `You have done wrong'?
|
| 36:24 |
Remember to extol his work, which men have praised in song.
|
| 36:25 |
All mankind has seen it; men gaze on it from afar.
|
| 36:26 |
How great is God--beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.
|
| 36:27 |
"He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams;
|
| 36:28 |
the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.
|
| 36:29 |
Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?
|
| 36:30 |
See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.
|
| 36:31 |
This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance.
|
| 36:32 |
He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
|
| 36:33 |
His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach.
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