Job 36
1 And Elihu went on to say,
Elihu also continued, and said,
2 Give me a little more time, and I will make it clear to you; for I have still something to say for God.
"Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for 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 get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false; one who has all knowledge is talking with you.
For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Truly, God gives up the hard-hearted, and will not give life to the sinner.
"Look, God is mighty, and doesn't despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 His eyes are ever on the upright, and he gives to the crushed their right;
He doesn't preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.
7 Lifting them up to the seat of kings, and making them safe for ever.
He doesn't withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
8 And if they have been prisoned in chains, and taken in cords of trouble,
If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
9 Then he makes clear to them what they have done, even their evil works in which they have taken pride.
then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
10 Their ear is open to his teaching, and he gives them orders so that their hearts may be turned from evil.
He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
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 serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if not, they come to their end, and give up their breath without knowledge.
But if they do not listen, they shall perish by the sword; they shall die without knowledge.
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.
"But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They do not cry for help when he binds them.
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 youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.
15 He makes the wrong done to the poor the way of their salvation, opening their ears by their trouble.
He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a broad place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
"But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.
Do not let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
Do not desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Take care not to be turned to sin, for you have taken evil for your part in place of sorrow.
Take heed, do not regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 Truly God is lifted up in strength; who is a ruler like him?
Look, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
23 Who ever gave orders to him, or said to him, You have done wrong?
Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, 'You have committed unrighteousness?'
24 See that you give praise to his work, about which men make songs.
"Remember that you magnify his work, whereof men have sung.
25 All people are looking on it; man sees it from far.
All men have looked thereon. Man sees it afar off.
26 Truly, God is great, greater than all our knowledge; the number of his years may not be searched out.
Look, God is great, and we do not know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
27 For he takes up the drops from the sea; he sends them through his mist as rain,
For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,
28 Flowing down from the sky, and dropping on the peoples.
Which the skies pour down and which drop on humankind abundantly.
29 And who has knowledge of how the clouds are stretched out, or of the thunders of his tent?
Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 See, he is stretching out his mist, covering the tops of the mountains with it.
Look, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
31 For by these he gives food to the peoples, and bread in full measure.
For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
32 He takes the light in his hands, sending it against the mark.
He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
33 The thunder makes clear his passion, and the storm gives news of his wrath.
Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.
