Job 36
1 Elihu also continued, and said,
Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.
Bear with me a little, and I will show thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
I will bring my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the afflicted.
He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
7 He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
8 If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
And if they are bound in fetters, and are held in cords of affliction;
9 then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
Then he showeth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
10 He also opens their ears 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 listen and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge.
But if they obey 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 the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
14 They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.
They die in youth, and their life is among the sodomites.
15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
16 Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a wide place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
Even so would he have removed thee out of distress into a broad place, where there is no restraint; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
17 “But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.
But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
18 Do not let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
19 Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
20 Do not desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, do not regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
23 Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness’?
Who hath directed him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
24 “Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung.
Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
25 All men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off.
Every man may see it; man may behold 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, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27 For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,
For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour of it:
28 which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.
Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunderings of his pavilion?
Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
30 Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
31 For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
For by them he judgeth the people; he giveth food in abundance.
32 He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh between.
33 Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.
The noise of it showeth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
