Job 36
1 Continuing in a similar manner, Eliu had this to say:
Then continued Elihu, and said,
2 Bear with me for a little while and I will show you; for I have still more to say in favor of God.
Wait for me a little, and I will instruct thee; for [I have] still some words on God's behalf.
3 I will review my knowledge from the beginning, and I will prove my Maker to be just.
I will lift up my knowledge for him who is afar, and for my Maker will I obtain righteousness.
4 For truly my words are without any falsehood and perfect knowledge will be proven to you.
For truly no falsehood is [in] my words: one that is upright in [his] opinions [dealeth now] with thee.
5 God does not abandon the powerful, for he himself is also powerful.
Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength of intellect.
6 But he does not save the impious, though he grants judgment to the poor.
He permitteth not the wicked to live; but he procureth justice for 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 withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous; but [he placeth them] with kings on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
8 And, if they are in captivity, or are bound with the chains of poverty,
And if they be bound in fetters, and if they be entangled in the cords of affliction:
9 he will reveal to them their works, as well as their sinfulness, in that they were violent.
Then doth he tell them of their work, and of their transgressions, when they had become strong.
10 Likewise, he will open their ears to his correction, and he will speak to them, so that they may return from iniquity.
And he openeth thus their ear to correction, and saith that they should return from wrong-doing.
11 If they listen and obey, they will fill their days with goodness and complete their years in glory.
If they hearken and serve [him], they will spend their days in happiness, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they will not listen, they will pass away by the sword and will be consumed by foolishness.
But if they hearken not, they will pass away through the sword, and they will perish in want of knowledge.
13 The false and the crafty provoke the wrath of God, yet they do not cry out to him when they are chained.
But the hypocrites in heart persevere in wrath; they will not offer entreaty when he bindeth them:
14 Their soul will die in a storm, and their life, among the unmanly.
Their soul will die in youth, and their life, among the incestuous.
15 He will rescue the poor from his anguish, and he will open his ear during tribulation.
He delivereth the afflicted through his affliction, and openeth through oppression his ear.
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.
And also thee hath he incited away from the jaws of distress into a wide space, on the site of which there is no straitness; and what is set on thy table is full of fatness.
17 Your case has been judged like that of the impious; you will withdraw your plea and your judgment.
But if thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: [divine] judgment and decree will support each other.
18 Therefore, do not let anger overwhelm you so that you oppress another; neither should you allow a multitude of gifts to influence you.
For there would be fury, If aught were to incite thee to utter an abundance [of rebellious words]; and the greatness of the infliction must not mislead thee.
19 Lay down your greatness without distress, and put aside all of your power with courage.
Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold ore, nor all the highest forces of strength.
20 Do not prolong the night, even if people rise on their behalf.
Desire then not eagerly the night, when nations pass away in their place.
21 Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity; for, after your misery, you have begun to follow this.
Take heed, turn not thyself to wrong-doing, so that thou wouldst choose this because of [thy] affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his strength, and there is no one like him among the law-givers.
Behold, God is exalted by his power: who is an instructer like him?
23 Who is able to investigate his ways? And who can say, “You have done iniquity,” to him?
Who hath given him a charge concerning his way? or who hath ever said, Thou hast acted unjustly?
24 Remember that you are ignorant of his work, yet men have sung its praises.
Reflect, that thou shouldst magnify his work, which [other] men have beheld.
25 All men consider him; and each one ponders from a distance.
All men have looked at it [with astonishment]; the mortal gazeth at it from afar.
26 Behold, God is great, defeating our knowledge; the number of his years is inestimable.
Behold, God is great, and we comprehend him not, the number of his years can truly not be searched out.
27 He carries away the drops of rain, and he sends forth showers like a raging whirlpool;
For he taketh away drops of water, which are purified into rain in his mist:
28 they flow from the clouds that are woven above everything.
These drop down out of the skies; they distil upon the multitude of men.
29 If he wills it, he extends the clouds as his tent
But [what man] can understand the outspreadings of the clouds? the tumult of his tabernacle?
30 and shines with his light from above; likewise, he covers the oceans within his tent.
Behold, he spreadeth out over it his light, and covereth up the roots of the sea.
31 For he judges the people by these things, and he gives food to a multitude of mortals.
For by means of them he judgeth nations, he giveth food in superfluity.
32 Within his hands, he hides the light, and he commands it to come forth again.
[His] hands he covereth with light; and he commandeth it to strike the one who striveth against him.
33 He announces it to his friend, for it is his possession and he is able to reach out to it.
The noise of his storm telleth of it, yea, the cattle also, of the rising tempest.
