Job 36
1 And Elius further continued, and said,
Elihu continued speaking.
2 Wait for me yet a little while, that I may teach you: for there is yet speech in me.
“Be patient with me just a little while longer and let me explain. I still have something to say on God's behalf.
3 Having fetched my knowledge from afar, and according to my works,
I will share my extensive knowledge, and I will prove my Creator is in the right.
4 I will speak just things truly, and you shall not unjustly receive unjust words.
I assure you that what I'm saying are not lies, for I am a man whose knowledge is of the highest order.
5 But know that the Lord will not cast off an innocent man: being mighty in strength of wisdom,
God is mighty, but doesn't despise anyone; he is powerful in strength and understanding.
6 he will not by any means save alive the ungodly: and he will grant the judgement of the poor.
He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives justice to the oppressed.
7 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.
He always pays attention those who do right, and places them on thrones with kings, honoring them eternally.
8 But they that are bound in fetters shall be holden in cords of poverty.
If they are bound in chains, tied down by ropes of suffering,
9 And he shall recount to them their works, and their transgressions, for such will act with violence.
then he explains to them what they've done—their arrogant sins.
10 But he will listen to the righteous: and he has said that they shall turn from unrighteousness.
He makes them pay attention and orders them to stop sinning.
11 If they should hear and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in honour.
If they listen and do what God says they will live out their lives in happiness.
12 But he preserves not the ungodly; because they are not willing to know the Lord, and because when reproved they were disobedient.
But if they do not listen they will die a violent death, ignorant of God.
13 And the hypocrites in heart will array wrath [against themselves]; they will not cry, because he has bound them.
Those who reject God hold on to their bitterness. Even when he disciplines them they do not cry out to him for help.
14 Therefore let their soul die in youth, and their life be wounded by messengers [of death].
They die in their youth; their lives end among the male temple prostitutes.
15 Because they afflicted the weak and helpless: and he will vindicate the judgement of the meek.
Through suffering God saves those who suffer; he gets their attention through their troubles.
16 And he has also enticed you out of the mouth of the enemy:
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.
17 [there is] a deep gulf [and] a rushing stream beneath it, and your table came down full of fatness. Judgement shall not fail from the righteous;
But you are preoccupied with the fate of the wicked; judgment and justice fill your mind.
18 but there shall be wrath upon the ungodly, by reason of the ungodliness of the bribes which they received for iniquities.
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.
19 Let not [your] mind willingly turn you aside from the petition of the feeble that are in distress.
Will your cry for help sustain you when troubles come?
20 And draw not forth all the mighty [men] by night, so that the people should go up instead of them.
Do not long for the night when people are suddenly taken away.
21 But take heed lest you do that which is wrong: for of this you has made choice because of poverty.
Watch out that you don't turn to evil! For it's because of this that you are being tested through suffering.
22 Behold, the Mighty One shall prevail by his strength: for who is powerful as he is?
Look how much power God has! What teacher is like him?
23 And who is he that examines his works? or who can say, he has wrought injustice?
Who has instructed him what to do? Who can say to him ‘You have done wrong’?
24 Remember that his works are great [beyond] those which men have attempted.
Instead you should praise him for what he has done, as people have done in song.
25 Every man has seen in himself, how many mortals are wounded.
Everyone has seen God's creation, though only from a distance.
26 Behold, the Mighty One is great, and we shall not know [him]: the number of his years is even infinite.
See how great God is—more than we can understand! No one can count his years.
27 And the drops of rain are numbered by him, and shall be poured out in rain to form a cloud.
He draws up the water and distils it into the dew and the rain.
28 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.
The clouds pour down rain, falling plentifully on humankind.
29 And though one should understand the outspreadings of the clouds, [or] the measure of his tabernacle;
Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out, or how thunder roars from where he lives?
30 behold he will stretch his bow against him, and he covers the bottom of the sea.
See how he scatters lightning around him, and covers the depths of the sea in darkness.
31 For by them he will judge the nations: he will give food to him that has strength.
By these actions he rules the people, he provides abundant food.
32 He has hidden the light in [his] hands, and given charge concerning it to the interposing [cloud].
He holds lightning in his hands and commands where it should strike.
33 The Lord will declare concerning this [to] his friend: [but there is] a portion also for unrighteousness.
Thunder declares his presence—even cattle know when a storm is coming.
