Job 36:1  Here Elihu took a deep breath, but kept going:

Job 36:2  "Stay with me a little longer. I'll convince you. There's still more to be said on God's side.

Job 36:3  I learned all this firsthand from the Source; everything I know about justice I owe to my Maker himself.

Job 36:4  Trust me, I'm giving you undiluted truth; believe me, I know these things inside and out.

Job 36:5  "It's true that God is all-powerful, but he doesn't bully innocent people.

Job 36:6  For the wicked, though, it's a different story-- he doesn't give them the time of day, but champions the rights of their victims.

Job 36:7  He never takes his eyes off the righteous; he honors them lavishly, promotes them endlessly.

Job 36:8  When things go badly, when affliction and suffering descend,

Job 36:9  God tells them where they've gone wrong, shows them how their pride has caused their trouble.

Job 36:10  He forces them to heed his warning, tells them they must repent of their bad life.

Job 36:11  If they obey and serve him, they'll have a good, long life on easy street.

Job 36:12  But if they disobey, they'll be cut down in their prime and never know the first thing about life.

Job 36:13  Angry people without God pile grievance upon grievance, always blaming others for their troubles.

Job 36:14  Living it up in sexual excesses, virility wasted, they die young.

Job 36:15  But those who learn from their suffering, God delivers from their suffering.

Job 36:16  "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?

Job 36:17  And here you are laden with the guilt of the wicked, obsessed with putting the blame on God!

Job 36:18  Don't let your great riches mislead you; don't think you can bribe your way out of this.

Job 36:19  Did you plan to buy your way out of this? Not on your life!

Job 36:20  And don't think that night, when people sleep off their troubles, will bring you any relief.

Job 36:21  Above all, don't make things worse with more evil-- that's what's behind your suffering as it is!

Job 36:22  "Do you have any idea how powerful God is? Have you ever heard of a teacher like him?

Job 36:23  Has anyone ever had to tell him what to do, or correct him, saying, 'You did that all wrong!'?

Job 36:24  Remember, then, to praise his workmanship, which is so often celebrated in song.

Job 36:25  Everybody sees it; nobody is too far away to see it.

Job 36:26  "Take a long, hard look. See how great he is--infinite, greater than anything you could ever imagine or figure out!

Job 36:27  "He pulls water up out of the sea, distills it, and fills up his rain-cloud cisterns.

Job 36:28  Then the skies open up and pour out soaking showers on everyone.

Job 36:29  Does anyone have the slightest idea how this happens? How he arranges the clouds, how he speaks in thunder?

Job 36:30  Just look at that lightning, his sky-filling light show illumining the dark depths of the sea!

Job 36:31  These are the symbols of his sovereignty, his generosity, his loving care.

Job 36:32  He hurls arrows of light, taking sure and accurate aim.

Job 36:33  The High God roars in the thunder, angry against evil.