Job 36
1 And Elihu went on to say,
Elihu continued speaking.
2 Give me a little more time, and I will make it clear to you; for I have still something to say for God.
“Be patient with me just a little while longer and let me explain. I still have something to say on God's behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from far, and I will give righteousness to my Maker.
I will share my extensive knowledge, and I will prove my Creator is in the right.
4 For truly my words are not false; one who has all knowledge is talking with you.
I assure you that what I'm saying are not lies, for I am a man whose knowledge is of the highest order.
5 Truly, God gives up the hard-hearted, and will not give life to the sinner.
God is mighty, but doesn't despise anyone; he is powerful in strength and understanding.
6 His eyes are ever on the upright, and he gives to the crushed their right;
He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives justice to the oppressed.
7 Lifting them up to the seat of kings, and making them safe for ever.
He always pays attention those who do right, and places them on thrones with kings, honoring them eternally.
8 And if they have been prisoned in chains, and taken in cords of trouble,
If they are bound in chains, tied down by ropes of suffering,
9 Then he makes clear to them what they have done, even their evil works in which they have taken pride.
then he explains to them what they've done—their arrogant sins.
10 Their ear is open to his teaching, and he gives them orders so that their hearts may be turned from evil.
He makes them pay attention and orders them to stop sinning.
11 If they give ear to his voice, and do his word, then he gives them long life, and years full of pleasure.
If they listen and do what God says they will live out their lives in happiness.
12 But if not, they come to their end, and give up their breath without knowledge.
But if they do not listen they will die a violent death, ignorant of God.
13 Those who have no fear of God keep wrath stored up in their hearts; they give no cry for help when they are made prisoners.
Those who reject God hold on to their bitterness. Even when he disciplines them they do not cry out to him for help.
14 They come to their end while they are still young, their life is short like that of those who are used for sex purposes in the worship of their gods.
They die in their youth; their lives end among the male temple prostitutes.
15 He makes the wrong done to the poor the way of their salvation, opening their ears by their trouble.
Through suffering God saves those who suffer; he gets their attention through their troubles.
God is trying to rescue you from the jaws of trouble to a place of freedom and safety, filling your table full of the very best food.
But you are preoccupied with the fate of the wicked; judgment and justice fill your mind.
But be careful that your anger doesn't seduce you into mockery; and don't let the size of the ‘bribe’ lead you into sin.
Will your cry for help sustain you when troubles come?
Do not long for the night when people are suddenly taken away.
21 Take care not to be turned to sin, for you have taken evil for your part in place of sorrow.
Watch out that you don't turn to evil! For it's because of this that you are being tested through suffering.
22 Truly God is lifted up in strength; who is a ruler like him?
Look how much power God has! What teacher is like him?
23 Who ever gave orders to him, or said to him, You have done wrong?
Who has instructed him what to do? Who can say to him ‘You have done wrong’?
24 See that you give praise to his work, about which men make songs.
Instead you should praise him for what he has done, as people have done in song.
25 All people are looking on it; man sees it from far.
Everyone has seen God's creation, though only from a distance.
26 Truly, God is great, greater than all our knowledge; the number of his years may not be searched out.
See how great God is—more than we can understand! No one can count his years.
27 For he takes up the drops from the sea; he sends them through his mist as rain,
He draws up the water and distils it into the dew and the rain.
28 Flowing down from the sky, and dropping on the peoples.
The clouds pour down rain, falling plentifully on humankind.
29 And who has knowledge of how the clouds are stretched out, or of the thunders of his tent?
Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out, or how thunder roars from where he lives?
30 See, he is stretching out his mist, covering the tops of the mountains with it.
See how he scatters lightning around him, and covers the depths of the sea in darkness.
31 For by these he gives food to the peoples, and bread in full measure.
By these actions he rules the people, he provides abundant food.
32 He takes the light in his hands, sending it against the mark.
He holds lightning in his hands and commands where it should strike.
33 The thunder makes clear his passion, and the storm gives news of his wrath.
Thunder declares his presence—even cattle know when a storm is coming.
