< Job 36 >
And Elius further continued, 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.
Wait for me yet a little while, that I may teach you: for there is yet speech in me.
3 I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
Having fetched my knowledge from afar, and according to my works,
4 For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.
I will speak just things truly, and you shall not unjustly receive unjust words.
5 Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
But know that the Lord will not cast off an innocent man: being mighty in strength of wisdom,
6 He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.
he will not by any means save alive the ungodly: and he will grant the judgment of 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 turn away his eyes from the righteous, but [they shall be] with kings on the throne: and he will establish them in triumph, and they shall be exalted.
8 And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,
But they that are bound in fetters shall be holden in cords of poverty.
9 then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
And he shall recount to them their works, and their transgressions, for such will act with violence.
10 He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.
But he will listen to the righteous: and he has said that they shall turn from unrighteousness.
11 If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.
If they should hear and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in honor.
12 But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
But he preserves not the ungodly; because they are not willing to know the Lord, and because when reproved they were disobedient.
13 The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.
And the hypocrites in heart will array wrath [against themselves]; they will not cry, because he has bound them.
14 They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.
Therefore let their soul die in youth, and their life be wounded by messengers [of death].
15 God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.
Because they afflicted the weak and helpless: and he will vindicate the judgment of the meek.
16 Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.
And he has also enticed you out of the mouth of the enemy:
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.
[there is] a deep gulf [and] a rushing stream beneath it, and your table came down full of fatness. Judgment shall not fail from the righteous;
18 Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.
but there shall be wrath upon the ungodly, by reason of the ungodliness of the bribes which they received for iniquities.
19 Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?
Let not [your] mind willingly turn you aside from the petition of the feeble that are in distress.
20 Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.
And draw not forth all the mighty [men] by night, so that the people should go up instead of them.
21 Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.
But take heed lest you do that which is wrong: for of this you has made choice because of poverty.
22 Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?
Behold, the Mighty One shall prevail by his strength: for who is powerful as he is?
23 Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?
And who is he that examines his works? or who can say, he has wrought injustice?
24 Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.
Remember that his works are great [beyond] those which men have attempted.
25 All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.
Every man has seen in himself, how many mortals are wounded.
26 Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.
Behold, the Mighty One is great, and we shall not know [him]: the number of his years is even infinite.
27 For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,
And the drops of rain are numbered by him, and shall be poured out in rain to form a cloud.
28 which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.
The ancient [heavens] shall flow, and the clouds overshadow innumerable mortals: he has fixed a time to cattle, and they know the order of rest. [Yet] by all these things your understanding is not astonished, neither is your mind disturbed in [your] body.
29 Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?
And though one should understand the outspreadings of the clouds, [or] the measure of his tabernacle;
30 See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.
behold he will stretch his bow against him, and he covers the bottom of the sea.
31 For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.
For by them he will judge the nations: he will give food to him that has strength.
32 He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
He has hidden the light in [his] hands, and given charge concerning it to the interposing [cloud].
33 The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.
The Lord will declare concerning this [to] his friend: [but there is] a portion also for unrighteousness.