Job 36
1 And Elihu continued:
Elihu 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 tell thee; for there are yet words on God's behalf.
3 I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.
For truly my words are not false; one that is upright in mind is with thee.
5 Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; 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 keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.
He preserveth not the life of the wicked; but giveth to the poor their right.
7 He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
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 men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,
And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
9 then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
Then He declareth unto them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
10 He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.
He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.
If they hearken and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13 The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.
But they that are godless in heart lay up anger; they cry not for help when He bindeth them.
14 They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.
Their soul perisheth in youth, and their life as that of the depraved.
15 God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.
He delivereth the afflicted by His affliction, and openeth their ear by tribulation.
16 Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.
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 now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.
And thou art full of the judgment of the wicked; judgment and justice take hold on them.
18 Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.
For beware of wrath, lest thou be led away by thy sufficiency; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.
19 Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?
Will thy riches avail, that are without stint, or all the forces of thy strength?
20 Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.
Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.
21 Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to 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 doeth loftily in His power; who is a teacher like Him?
23 Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?
Who hath enjoined Him His way? Or who hath said: 'Thou hast wrought unrighteousness'?
24 Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.
Remember that thou magnify His work, whereof men have sung.
25 All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.
All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off.
26 Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; 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 drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,
For He draweth away the drops of water, which distil rain from His vapour;
28 which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.
Which the skies pour down and drop upon the multitudes of men.
29 Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?
Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the crashings of His pavilion?
30 See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths 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 nations and provides food in abundance.
For by these He judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.
32 He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
He covereth His hands with the lightning, and giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.
33 The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.
The noise thereof telleth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up.
