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continued, saying:
2 “Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you
that there is yet more to be said on God’s behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from far away,
and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false;
one who has perfect knowledge is with you.
5 “God is mighty, but He does not despise any;
He is great in strength and in understanding.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive,
but He gives justice to the afflicted.
7 He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
but He seats them on king’s thrones,
and they are exalted forever.
8 “And if people are bound in fetters,
and held tight in cords of affliction,
9 then He declares to them what they have done
and the arrogance of their transgressions.
10 He opens their ear to instruction,
and commands that they repent of their evil.
11 If they obey and serve Him,
they will spend the remainder of their days in prosperity,
and their years in contentment.
12 But if they do not obey,
they will perish by the sword,
and die without knowledge.
13 “The godless in heart store up anger;
even when God binds them, they do not cry for help.
14 They die in their youth,
and their life ends among male cult prostitutes.
15 He delivers the humble from their affliction,
and speaks to them through their sufferings.
16 “Indeed, He draws you away from the jaws of distress,
into a spacious place free from restriction,
with your table laden with choice, rich foods.
17 But you are obsessed with the judgment due the wicked;
judgment and justice told hold of you.
18 Be careful no one entices you with riches,
or you are led astray by a large bribe.
19 Would your riches and gold,
or all the force of your strength
save you out of your distress?
20 Do not long for the night,
when people may disappear without trace.
21 Beware of turning to iniquity,
for this you seem to prefer to affliction.
22 “Look, God is exalted in His power.
Who is a teacher like Him?
23 Who has appointed his way for him,
or who can say, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 “Remember that you magnify His work,
of which people rejoice with singing.
25 All mankind has seen it;
men gaze on it from a distance.
26 Look, God is great, and we do not know Him,
nor can the number of His years be searched out.
27 He draws up the drops of water,
they distill as rain from the mist,
28 which the clouds pour down
and shower upon man abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds,
or the thunderings from His pavilion?
30 See how He spreads His lightning around Him,
and covers the depths of the sea.
31 By these He guides the nations;
and gives food in abundance.
32 He fills His hands with lightning,
and commands it to strike its mark.
33 The thunderclaps tell of Him;
cattle also know of it, in the approaching storm.”