Job 36

1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,

Elihu also proceeded, and said:

2 Allow me a little, and I will show thee. For I have yet somewhat to say on God's behalf.

Suffer me a little, and I will tell thee; for there are yet words on God's behalf.

3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my maker.

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

4 (For truly my words are not false.) He who is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

For truly my words are not false; one that is upright in mind is with thee.

5 Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

Behold, God is mighty, yet He despiseth not any; He is mighty in strength of understanding.

6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.

He preserveth not the life of the wicked; but giveth to the poor their right.

7 He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but he sets them forever with kings upon the throne, and they are exalted.

He withdraweth not His eyes from the righteous; but with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.

8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be taken in the cords of afflictions,

And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;

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

Then He declareth unto them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

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

He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

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

If they hearken and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

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

But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and 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.

But they that are godless in heart lay up anger; they cry not for help when He bindeth them.

14 They die in youth, and their life perishes among the unclean.

Their soul perisheth in youth, and their life as that of the depraved.

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

He delivereth the afflicted by His affliction, and openeth their ear by tribulation.

16 Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress into a broad place, where there is no confinement, and that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness.

Yea, He hath allured thee out of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which is set on thy table is full of fatness;

17 But thou have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold,

And thou art full of the judgment of the wicked; judgment and justice take hold on them.

18 and there shall be wrath upon the impious because of the ungodliness of bribes which the unrighteous receive.

For beware of wrath, lest thou be led away by thy sufficiency; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.

19 Will thy cry not avail in distress, or all the forces of strength?

Will thy riches avail, that are without stint, or all the forces of thy strength?

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

Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed. Do not turn to iniquity, for thou have fixed on this because of affliction.

Take heed, regard not iniquity; for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

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

Behold, God doeth loftily in His power; who is a teacher like Him?

23 Who has enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou have wrought unrighteousness?

Who hath enjoined Him His way? Or who hath said: 'Thou hast wrought unrighteousness'?

24 Remember that thou magnify his work, of which men have sung.

Remember that thou magnify His work, whereof men have sung.

25 All men have looked on it. Man beholds it afar off.

All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off.

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

Behold, God is great, beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.

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

For He draweth away the drops of water, which distil rain from His vapour;

28 which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly.

Which the skies pour down and drop upon the multitudes of men.

29 Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?

Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the crashings of His pavilion?

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

Behold, He spreadeth His light upon it; and He covereth the depths of the sea.

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

For by these He judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.

32 He covers his hands with the lightning, and gives it a command that it strike the mark.

He covereth His hands with the lightning, and giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.

33 The noise of it tells concerning him. The cattle also concerning the storm that comes up.

The noise thereof telleth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up.