Job 36
1 And Elius further continued, and said,
Elihu also continued, and said,
2 Wait for me yet a little while, that I may teach you: for there is yet speech in me.
“Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.
3 Having fetched my knowledge from afar, and according to my works,
I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 I will speak just things truly, and you shall not unjustly receive unjust words.
For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 But know that the Lord will not cast off an innocent man: being mighty in strength of wisdom,
“Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 he will not by any means save alive the ungodly: and he will grant the judgement of the poor.
He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the afflicted.
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 doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
8 But they that are bound in fetters shall be holden in cords of poverty.
If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
9 And he shall recount to them their works, and their transgressions, for such will act with violence.
then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
10 But he will listen to the righteous: and he has said that they shall turn from unrighteousness.
He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
11 If they should hear and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in honour.
If they listen and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
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 don’t listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge.
13 And the hypocrites in heart will array wrath [against themselves]; they will not cry, because he has bound them.
“But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.
14 Therefore let their soul die in youth, and their life be wounded by messengers [of death].
They die in youth. Their life perishes amongst the unclean.
15 Because they afflicted the weak and helpless: and he will vindicate the judgement of the meek.
He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
16 And he has also enticed you out of the mouth of the enemy:
Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a wide place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
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 full of the judgement of the wicked. Judgement and justice take hold of you.
18 but there shall be wrath upon the ungodly, by reason of the ungodliness of the bribes which they received for iniquities.
Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
19 Let not [your] mind willingly turn you aside from the petition of the feeble that are in distress.
Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
20 And draw not forth all the mighty [men] by night, so that the people should go up instead of them.
Don’t desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 But take heed lest you do that which is wrong: for of this you has made choice because of poverty.
Take heed, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 Behold, the Mighty One shall prevail by his strength: for who is powerful as he is?
Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
23 And who is he that examines his works? or who can say, he has wrought injustice?
Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness’?
24 Remember that his works are great [beyond] those which men have attempted.
“Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung.
25 Every man has seen in himself, how many mortals are wounded.
All men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off.
26 Behold, the Mighty One is great, and we shall not know [him]: the number of his years is even infinite.
Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
27 And the drops of rain are numbered by him, and shall be poured out in rain to form a cloud.
For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapour,
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.
which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.
29 And though one should understand the outspreadings of the clouds, [or] the measure of his tabernacle;
Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 behold he will stretch his bow against him, and he covers the bottom of the sea.
Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
31 For by them he will judge the nations: he will give food to him that has strength.
For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
32 He has hidden the light in [his] hands, and given charge concerning it to the interposing [cloud].
He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
33 The Lord will declare concerning this [to] his friend: [but there is] a portion also for unrighteousness.
Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.
