Read the Bible

² Be patient a while longer;
I have something else to say
    in God's defense.
³ God always does right—
and this knowledge
    comes straight from God.^[a]
4 You can rest assured
    that what I say is true.
⁵ Although God is mighty,
he cares about everyone
    and makes fair decisions.

⁶ The wicked are cut down,
and those who are wronged
    receive justice.
⁷ God watches over good people
and places them
in positions
    of power and honor forever.
⁸ But when people are prisoners
    of suffering and pain,
⁹ God points out their sin
    and their pride,
¹⁰ then he warns them
    to turn back to him.
¹¹ And if they obey,
they will be successful
    and happy from then on.
¹² But if they foolishly refuse,
they will be rewarded
    with a violent death.

¹³ Godless people are too angry
to ask God for help
    when he punishes them.
¹⁴ So they die young
    in shameful disgrace.
¹⁵ Hard times and trouble
are God's way
    of getting our attention!
¹⁶ And at this very moment,
God deeply desires
    to lead you from trouble
and to spread your table
    with your favorite food.

¹⁷ Now that the judgment
for your sins
    has fallen upon you,
¹⁸ don't let your anger
and the pain you endured
    make you sneer at God.
¹⁹ Your reputation and riches
cannot protect you
    from distress,
²⁰ nor can you find safety
    in the dark world below.^[b]
21 Be on guard! Don't turn to evil
    as a way of escape.
²² God's power is unlimited.
He needs no teachers
²³     to guide or correct him.

²⁴ Others have praised God
for 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 years
    he has lived.
²⁷ God gathers moisture
into the clouds
²⁸     and supplies us with rain.
²⁹ Who can understand
    how God scatters the clouds
and speaks from his home
    in the thunderstorm?
³⁰ And when God sends lightning,
it can be seen
    at the bottom of the sea.
³¹ By producing such rainstorms,
God rules the world
    and provides us with food.
³² Each flash of lightning
is one of his arrows
    striking its target,
³³ and the thunder tells
    of his anger against sin.^[c]