< Job 36 >

1 And Elihu continued:
Eliu also proceeded, and said:
2 “Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.
Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet somewhat to speak in God’s behalf.
3 I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
I will repeat my knowledge from the beginning, and I will prove my Maker just.
4 For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.
For indeed my words are without a lie, and perfect knowledge shall be proved to thee.
5 Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
God doth not cast away the mighty, whereas he himself also is mighty.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.
But he saveth not the wicked, and he giveth judgment to the poor.
7 He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
He will not take away his eyes from the just, and he placeth kings on the throne for ever, and they are exalted.
8 And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,
And if they shall be in chains, and be bound with the cords of poverty:
9 then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
He shall shew them their works, and their wicked deeds, because they have been violent.
10 He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.
He also shall open their ear, to correct them: and shall speak, that they may return from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.
If they shall hear and observe, they shall accomplish their days in good, and their years in glory.
12 But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
But if they hear not, they shall pass by the sword, and shall be consumed in folly.
13 The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.
Dissemblers and crafty men prove the wrath of God, neither shall they cry when they are bound.
14 They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.
Their soul shall die in a storm, and their life among the effeminate.
15 God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.
He shall deliver the poor out of his distress, and shall open his ear in affliction.
16 Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.
Therefore he shall set thee at large out of the narrow mouth, and which hath no foundation under it: and the rest of thy table shall be full of fatness.
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.
Thy cause hath been judged as that of the wicked, cause and judgment thou shalt recover.
18 Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.
Therefore let not anger overcome thee to oppress any man: neither let multitude of gifts turn thee aside.
19 Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?
Lay down thy greatness without tribulation, and all the mighty of strength.
20 Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.
Prolong not the night that people may come up for them.
21 Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.
Beware thou turn not aside to iniquity: for this thou hast begun to follow after misery.
22 Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?
Behold, God is high in his strength, and none is like him among the lawgivers.
23 Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?
Who can search out his ways? or who can say to him: Thou has wrought iniquity?
24 Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.
Remember that thou knowest not his work, concerning which men have sung.
25 All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.
All men see him, every one beholdeth afar off.
26 Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.
Behold, God is great, exceeding our knowledge: the number of his years is inestimable.
27 For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,
He lifteth up the drops of rain, and poureth out showers like floods:
28 which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.
Which flow from the clouds that cover all above.
29 Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?
If he will spread out clouds as his tent,
30 See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.
And lighten with his light from above, he shall cover also the ends of the sea.
31 For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.
For by these he judgeth people, and giveth food to many mortals.
32 He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
In his hands he hideth the light, and commandeth it to come again.
33 The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.
He sheweth his friend concerning it, that it is his possession, and that he may come up to it.

< Job 36 >