1 Elihu said:
2 Be patient a while longer;I have something else to sayin God's defense.
3 God always does right—and this knowledgecomes straight from God.
4 You can rest assuredthat what I say is true.
5 Although God is mighty,he cares about everyoneand makes fair decisions.
6 The wicked are cut down,and those who are wrongedreceive justice.
7 God watches over good peopleand places them in positionsof power and honor forever.
8 But when people are prisonersof suffering and pain,*
9 God points out their sinand their pride,
10 then he warns themto turn back to him.
11 And if they obey,they will be successfuland happy from then on.
12 But if they foolishly refuse,they will be rewardedwith a violent death.
13 Godless people are too angryto ask God for helpwhen he punishes them.
14 So they die youngin shameful disgrace.
15 Hard times and troubleare God's wayof getting our attention!
16 And at this very moment,God deeply desiresto lead you from troubleand to spread your tablewith your favorite food.
17 Now that the judgmentfor your sinshas fallen upon you,
18 don't let your angerand the pain you enduredmake you sneer at God.
19 Your reputation and richescannot protect youfrom distress,
20 nor can you find safetyin the dark world below.
21 Be on guard! Don't turn to evilas a way of escape.
22 God's power is unlimited.He needs no teachers
23 to guide or correct him.
24 Others have praised Godfor what he has done,so join with them.
25 From down here on earth,everyone has looked up and seen
26 how great God is—God is more than we imagine;no one can count the yearshe has lived.*
27 God gathers moistureinto the clouds
28 and supplies us with rain.
29 Who can understandhow God scatters the cloudsand speaks from his homein the thunderstorm?
30 And when God sends lightning,it can be seenat the bottom of the sea.
31 By producing such rainstorms,God rules the worldand provides us with food.
32 Each flash of lightningis one of his arrowsstriking its target,
33 and the thunder tellsof his anger against sin.