2“Bear with me a little, and I will show you
That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf.
3I will fetch my knowledge from afar;
I 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, but despises no one;
He is mighty in strength [a]of understanding.
6He does not preserve the life of the wicked,
But gives justice to the oppressed.
7He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But they are on the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever,
And they are exalted.
8And if they are bound in [b]fetters,
Held in the cords of affliction,
9Then He tells them their work and their transgressions—
That they have acted [c]defiantly.
10He also opens their ear to [d]instruction,
And commands that they turn from iniquity.
11If they obey and serve Him,
They shall spend their days in prosperity,
And their years in pleasures.
12But if they do not obey,
They shall perish by the sword,
And they shall die [e]without knowledge.

13“But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14They[f] die in youth,
And their life ends among the [g]perverted persons.
15He delivers the poor in their affliction,
And opens their ears in oppression.

16“Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress,
Into a broad place where there is no restraint;
And what is set on your table would be full of richness.
17But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow;
For a large ransom would not help you avoid it.
19Will your riches,
Or all the mighty forces,
Keep you from distress?
20Do not desire the night,
When people are cut off in their place.
21Take heed, do not turn to iniquity,
For you have chosen this rather than affliction.

22“Behold, God is exalted by His power;
Who teaches like Him?
23Who has assigned Him His way,
Or who has said, ‘You have done wrong’?

26“Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him;
Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
27For He draws up drops of water,
Which distill as rain from the mist,
28Which the clouds drop down
And pour abundantly on man.
29Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds,
The thunder from His canopy?
30Look, He scatters His light upon it,
And covers the depths of the sea.
31For by these He judges the peoples;
He gives food in abundance.
32He covers His hands with lightning,
And commands it to [h]strike.
33His thunder declares it,
The cattle also, concerning [i]the rising storm.