Through the Bible – Day 184

₁Elihu said:

₂You men think you are wise,

but just listen to me!

₃Think about my words,

as you would taste food.

₄Then we can decide the case

and give a just verdict.

₅Job claims he is innocent

and God is guilty

of ill-treating him.

₆Job also argues that God

considers him a liar

and that he is suffering severely

in spite of his innocence.

₇But to tell the truth,

Job is shameless!

₈He spends his time with sinners,

₉because he has said,

“It doesn't pay to please God.”

₁₀If any of you are clever,

you will listen and learn

that God All-Powerful

does what is right.

₁₁God always treats everyone

the way they deserve,

₁₂and he is never unfair.

₁₃From the very beginning,

God has been in control

of all the world.

₁₄If God took back the breath

that he breathed into us,

₁₅we humans would die

and return to the soil.

₁₆So be wise and listen!

₁₇The mighty God is the one

who brings about justice,

and you are condemning him.

₁₈Indeed, God is the one

who condemns unfair rulers.

₁₉And God created us all;

he has no favourites,

whether rich or poor.

₂₀Even powerful rulers die

in the darkness of night

when they least expect it,

just like the rest of us.

₂₁God watches everything we do.

₂₂No evil person can hide

in the deepest darkness.

₂₃And so, God doesn't need

to set a time for judgment.

₂₄Without asking for advice,

God removes mighty leaders

and puts others in their place.

₂₅He knows what they are like,

and he wipes them out

in the middle of the night.

₂₆And while others look on,

he punishes them

because they were evil

₂₇and refused to obey him.

₂₈The persons they ill-treated

had prayed for help,

until God answered

their prayers.

₂₉When God does nothing,

can any person or nation

find fault with him?

₃₀But still, he punishes rulers

who abuse their people.

₃₁Job, you should tell God

that you are guilty

and promise to do better.

₃₂Then ask him to point out

what you did wrong,

so you won't do it again.

₃₃Do you make the rules,

or does God?

You have to decide—

I can't do it for you;

now make up your mind.

₃₄Job, anyone with good sense

can easily see

₃₅that you are speaking nonsense

and lack good judgment.

₃₆So I pray for you to suffer

as much as possible

for talking like a sinner.

₃₇You have rebelled against God,

time after time,

and have even insulted us.

₁Elihu said:

₂Job, are you really innocent

in the sight of God?

₃Don't you honestly believe

it pays to obey him?

₄I will give the answers

to you and your friends.

_5-6Look up to the heavens

and think!

Do your sins hurt God?

₇Is any good you may have done

at all helpful to him?

₈The evil or good you do

only affects other humans.

₉In times of trouble,

everyone begs the mighty God

to have mercy.

₁₀But after their Creator

helps them through hard times,

they forget about him,

₁₁though he makes us wiser

than animals or birds.

₁₂God won't listen to the prayers

of proud and evil people.

₁₃If God All-Powerful refuses

to answer their empty prayers,

₁₄he will surely deny

your impatient request

to face him in court.

₁₅Job, you were wrong to say

God doesn't punish sin.

₁₆Everything you have said

adds up to nonsense.

₁Elihu said:

₂Be patient a while longer;

I have something else to say

in God's defence.

₃God always does right—

and this knowledge

comes straight from God.

₄You can rest assured

that what I say is true.

₅Although God is mighty,

he cares about everyone

and makes fair decisions.

₆The wicked are cut down,

and those who are wronged

receive justice.

₇God watches over good people

and places them in positions

of power and honour for ever.

₈But when people are prisoners

of suffering and pain,

_9-10God points out their sin

and their pride,

then he warns them

to turn back to him.

₁₁And if they obey,

they will be successful

and happy from then on.

₁₂But if they foolishly refuse,

they will be rewarded

with a violent death.

₁₃Godless people are too angry

to ask God for help

when he punishes them.

₁₄So they die young

in shameful disgrace.

₁₅Hard times and trouble

are God's way

of getting our attention!

₁₆And at this very moment,

God deeply desires

to lead you from trouble

and to spread your table

with your favourite food.

₁₇Now that the judgment

for your sins

has fallen upon you,

₁₈don't let your anger

and the pain you endured

make you sneer at God.

₁₉Your reputation and riches

cannot protect you

from distress,

₂₀nor can you find safety

in the dark world below.

₂₁Be on guard! Don't turn to evil

as a way of escape.

₂₂God's power is unlimited.

He needs no teachers

₂₃to guide or correct him.

₂₄Others have praised God

for what he has done,

so join with them.

₂₅From down here on earth,

everyone has looked up and seen

₂₆how great God is—

God is more than we imagine;

no one can count the years

he has lived.

_27-28God gathers moisture

into the clouds

and supplies us with rain.

₂₉Who can understand

how God scatters the clouds

and speaks from his home

in the thunderstorm?

₃₀And when God sends lightning,

it can be seen

at the bottom of the sea.

₃₁By producing such rainstorms,

God rules the world

and provides us with food.

₃₂Each flash of lightning

is one of his arrows

striking its target,

₃₃and the thunder tells

of his anger against sin.

₁I am frightened

and tremble all over,

₂when I hear the roaring voice

of God in the thunder,

₃and when I see his lightning

flash across the sky.

₄God's majestic voice

thunders his commands,

₅creating miracles too marvellous

for us to understand.

₆Snow and heavy rainstorms

₇make us stop and think

about God's power,

₈and they force animals

to seek shelter.

₉The storms of winter strike,

₁₀and the breath of God

freezes streams and rivers.

₁₁Rain clouds filled with lightning

appear at God's command,

₁₂travelling across the sky

₁₃to release their cargo—

sometimes as punishment for sin,

sometimes as kindness.

₁₄Job, consider carefully

the many wonders of God.

₁₅Can you explain why lightning

flashes at the orders

₁₆of God who knows all things?

Or how he hangs the clouds

in empty space?

₁₇You almost melt in the heat

of fierce desert winds

when the sky is like brass.

₁₈God can spread out the clouds

to get relief from the heat,

but can you?

₁₉Tell us what to say to God!

Our minds are in the dark,

and we don't know how

to argue our case.

₂₀Should I risk my life

by telling God

that I want to speak?

₂₁No one can stare at the sun

after a breeze has blown

the clouds from the sky.

₂₂Yet the glorious splendour

of God All-Powerful

is brighter by far.

₂₃God cannot be seen—

but his power is great,

and he is always fair.

₂₄And so we humans fear God,

because he shows no respect

for those who are proud

and think they know so much.

“You are my son because today

I have become your Father.”

“I will make to you

the same holy promise

that I made to David.”

₄₁“Look, you people

who make fun of God!

Be amazed

and disappear.

I will do something today

that you won't believe,

even if someone

tells you about it!”