Day 236 of 730

¹Moreover Elihu answered,

²"Do you think this to be your right, or do you say, 'My righteousness is more than God's,'

³That you ask, 'What advantage will it be to you? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?'

⁴I will answer you, and your companions with you.

⁵Look to the heavens, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.

⁶If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him? If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?

⁷If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he receive from your hand?

⁸Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are, and your righteousness may profit a son of man.

⁹"By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out. They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.

¹⁰But none says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

¹¹who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'

¹²There they cry, but none gives answer, because of the pride of evil men.

¹³Surely God will not hear an empty cry, neither will the Almighty regard it.

¹⁴How much less when you say you do not see him. The cause is before him, and you wait for him!

¹⁵But now, because he has not visited in his anger, neither does he greatly regard arrogance.

¹⁶Therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, and he multiplies words without knowledge."

¹Elihu also continued, and said,

²"Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God's behalf.

³I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

⁴For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

⁵"Behold, God is mighty, and doesn't despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

⁶He doesn't preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.

⁷He doesn't withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.

⁸If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,

⁹then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

¹⁰He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.

¹¹If they listen and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

¹²But if they do not listen, they shall perish by the sword; they shall die without knowledge.

¹³"But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They do not cry for help when he binds them.

¹⁴They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.

¹⁵He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.

¹⁶Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a broad place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.

¹⁷"But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.

¹⁸Do not let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.

¹⁹Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?

²⁰Do not desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.

²¹Take heed, do not regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.

²²Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

²³Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, 'You have committed unrighteousness?'

²⁴"Remember that you magnify his work, whereof men have sung.

²⁵All men have looked thereon. Man sees it afar off.

²⁶Behold, God is great, and we do not know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.

²⁷For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,

²⁸Which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.

²⁹Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?

³⁰Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.

³¹For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.

³²He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.

³³Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.

¹Hear, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

²Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you.

³Be merciful to me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.

⁴Bring joy to the soul of your servant, for to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul.

⁵For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.

⁶Hear, Lord, my prayer. Listen to the voice of my petitions.

⁷In the day of my trouble I will call on you, for you will answer me.

⁸There is no one like you among the gods, Lord, nor any deeds like your deeds.

⁹All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name.

¹⁰For you are great, and do wondrous things. You are God alone.

¹¹Teach me your way, Lord. I will walk in your truth. Make my heart undivided to fear your name.

¹²I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole heart. I will glorify your name forevermore.

¹³For your loving kindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.

¹⁴God, the proud have risen up against me. A company of violent men have sought after my soul, and they do not hold regard for you before them.

¹⁵But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.

¹⁶Turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give your strength to your servant. Save the son of your handmaid.

¹⁷Show me a sign of your goodness, that those who hate me may see it, and be shamed, because you, Lord, have helped me, and comforted me.

¹Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

²It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge; nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way.

³The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against the Lord.

⁴Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.

⁵A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.

⁶Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

⁷All the relatives of the poor shun him: how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.

⁸He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.

⁹A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.

¹⁰Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

¹¹The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.

¹²The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

¹³A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping.

¹⁴House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

¹⁵Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.

¹⁶He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.

¹⁷He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord; he will reward him.

¹⁸Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.

¹⁹A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.

²⁰Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.

²¹There are many plans in a man's heart, but the Lord's counsel will prevail.

²²That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.

²³The fear of the Lord leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.

²⁴The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

²⁵Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

²⁶He who robs his father and drives away his mother, is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

²⁷If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.

²⁹Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.