Job 36
1 Continuing in a similar manner, Eliu had this to say:
And Elihu continued:
2 Bear with me for a little while and I will show you; for I have still more to say in favor of God.
“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.
3 I will review my knowledge from the beginning, and I will prove my Maker to be just.
I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are without any falsehood and perfect knowledge will be proven to you.
For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 God does not abandon the powerful, for he himself is also powerful.
Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 But he does not save the impious, though he grants judgment to the poor.
He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.
7 He will not take his eyes away from the just, and he continually establishes kings on their throne, and they are exalted.
He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
8 And, if they are in captivity, or are bound with the chains of poverty,
And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,
9 he will reveal to them their works, as well as their sinfulness, in that they were violent.
then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
10 Likewise, he will open their ears to his correction, and he will speak to them, so that they may return from iniquity.
He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they listen and obey, they will fill their days with goodness and complete their years in glory.
If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.
12 But if they will not listen, they will pass away by the sword and will be consumed by foolishness.
But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
13 The false and the crafty provoke the wrath of God, yet they do not cry out to him when they are chained.
The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.
14 Their soul will die in a storm, and their life, among the unmanly.
They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.
15 He will rescue the poor from his anguish, and he will open his ear during tribulation.
God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.
16 Therefore, he will save you from the narrow mouth very widely, even though it has no foundation under it. Moreover, your respite at table will be full of fatness.
Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.
17 Your case has been judged like that of the impious; you will withdraw your plea and your judgment.
But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.
18 Therefore, do not let anger overwhelm you so that you oppress another; neither should you allow a multitude of gifts to influence you.
Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.
19 Lay down your greatness without distress, and put aside all of your power with courage.
Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?
20 Do not prolong the night, even if people rise on their behalf.
Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.
21 Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity; for, after your misery, you have begun to follow this.
Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his strength, and there is no one like him among the law-givers.
Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?
23 Who is able to investigate his ways? And who can say, “You have done iniquity,” to him?
Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 Remember that you are ignorant of his work, yet men have sung its praises.
Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.
25 All men consider him; and each one ponders from a distance.
All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.
26 Behold, God is great, defeating our knowledge; the number of his years is inestimable.
Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.
27 He carries away the drops of rain, and he sends forth showers like a raging whirlpool;
For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,
28 they flow from the clouds that are woven above everything.
which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.
29 If he wills it, he extends the clouds as his tent
Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?
30 and shines with his light from above; likewise, he covers the oceans within his tent.
See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.
31 For he judges the people by these things, and he gives food to a multitude of mortals.
For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.
32 Within his hands, he hides the light, and he commands it to come forth again.
He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
33 He announces it to his friend, for it is his possession and he is able to reach out to it.
The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.
