Job chapters 35-37 (NIV)Job 351Then Elihu said:2″Do you think this is just?You say, ‘I will be cleared by God.’3Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,and what do I gain by not sinning?’4″I would like to reply to youand to your friends with you.5Look up at the heavens and see;gaze at the clouds so high above you.6If you sin, how does that affect him?If your sins are many, what does that do to him?7If you are righteous, what do you give to him,or what does he receive from your hand?8Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself,and your righteousness only the sons of men.9″Men cry out under a load of oppression;they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.10But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,who gives songs in the night,11who teaches more to us than to the beasts of the earthand makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’12He does not answer when men cry outbecause of the arrogance of the wicked.13Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;the Almighty pays no attention to it.14How much less, then, will he listenwhen you say that you do not see him,that your case is before himand you must wait for him,15and further, that his anger never punishesand he does not take the least notice of wickedness.16So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;without knowledge he multiplies words.”Job 361Elihu continued:2″Bear with me a little longer and I will show youthat there is more to be said in God’s behalf.3I get my knowledge from afar;I will ascribe justice to my Maker.4Be assured that my words are not false;one perfect in knowledge is with you.5″God is mighty, but does not despise men;he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.6He does not keep the wicked alivebut gives the afflicted their rights.7He does not take his eyes off the righteous;he enthrones them with kingsand exalts them forever.8But if men are bound in chains,held fast by cords of affliction,9he tells them what they have done—that they have sinned arrogantly.10He makes them listen to correctionand commands them to repent of their evil.11If they obey and serve him,they will spend the rest of their days in prosperityand their years in contentment.12But if they do not listen,they will perish by the swordand die without knowledge.13″The godless in heart harbor resentment;even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.14They die in their youth,among male prostitutes of the shrines.15But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering;he speaks to them in their affliction.16″He is wooing you from the jaws of distressto a spacious place free from restriction,to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.17But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;judgment and justice have taken hold of you.18Be careful that no one entices you by riches;do not let a large bribe turn you aside.19Would your wealthor even all your mighty effortssustain you so you would not be in distress?20Do not long for the night,to drag people away from their homes.21Beware of turning to evil,which you seem to prefer to affliction.22″God is exalted in his power.Who is a teacher like him?23Who has prescribed his ways for him,or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?24Remember to extol his work,which men have praised in song.25All mankind has seen it;men gaze on it from afar.26How great is God—beyond our understanding!The number of his years is past finding out.27″He draws up the drops of water,which distill as rain to the streams;28the clouds pour down their moistureand abundant showers fall on mankind.29Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,how he thunders from his pavilion?30See how he scatters his lightning about him,bathing the depths of the sea.31This is the way he governs the nationsand provides food in abundance.32He fills his hands with lightningand commands it to strike its mark.33His thunder announces the coming storm;even the cattle make known its approach.Job 371″At this my heart poundsand leaps from its place.2Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice,to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.3He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heavenand sends it to the ends of the earth.4After that comes the sound of his roar;he thunders with his majestic voice.When his voice resounds,he holds nothing back.5God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;he does great things beyond our understanding.6He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’7So that all men he has made may know his work,he stops every man from his labor.8The animals take cover;they remain in their dens.9The tempest comes out from its chamber,the cold from the driving winds.10The breath of God produces ice,and the broad waters become frozen.11He loads the clouds with moisture;he scatters his lightning through them.12At his direction they swirl aroundover the face of the whole earthto do whatever he commands them.13He brings the clouds to punish men,or to water his earth and show his love.14″Listen to this, Job;stop and consider God’s wonders.15Do you know how God controls the cloudsand makes his lightning flash?16Do you know how the clouds hang poised,those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?17You who swelter in your clotheswhen the land lies hushed under the south wind,18can you join him in spreading out the skies,hard as a mirror of cast bronze?19″Tell us what we should say to him;we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.20Should he be told that I want to speak?Would any man ask to be swallowed up?21Now no one can look at the sun,bright as it is in the skiesafter the wind has swept them clean.22Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;God comes in awesome majesty.23The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.24Therefore, men revere him,for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?”