< Job 36 >
1 Continuing in a similar manner, Eliu had this to say:
And Elihu adds and says:
2 Bear with me for a little while and I will show you; for I have still more to say in favor of God.
“Honor me a little, and I show you, That yet for God [are] words.
3 I will review my knowledge from the beginning, and I will prove my Maker to be just.
I lift up my knowledge from afar, And I ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are without any falsehood and perfect knowledge will be proven to you.
For my words [are] truly not false, The perfect in knowledge [is] with you.
5 God does not abandon the powerful, for he himself is also powerful.
Behold, God [is] mighty, and does not despise, Mighty [in] power [and] heart.
6 But he does not save the impious, though he grants judgment to the poor.
He does not revive the wicked, And appoints the judgment of the poor;
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 withdraw His eyes from the righteous, And [from] kings on the throne, And causes them to sit forever, and they are high,
8 And, if they are in captivity, or are bound with the chains of poverty,
And if prisoners in chains They are captured with cords of affliction,
9 he will reveal to them their works, as well as their sinfulness, in that they were violent.
Then He declares to them their work, And their transgressions, Because they have become mighty,
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 uncovers their ear for instruction, And commands that they turn back from iniquity.
11 If they listen and obey, they will fill their days with goodness and complete their years in glory.
If they hear and serve, They complete their days in good, And their years in pleasantness.
12 But if they will not listen, they will pass away by the sword and will be consumed by foolishness.
And if they do not listen, They pass away by the dart, And expire 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.
And the profane in heart set the face, They do not cry when He has bound them.
14 Their soul will die in a storm, and their life, among the unmanly.
Their soul dies in youth, And their life among the defiled.
15 He will rescue the poor from his anguish, and he will open his ear during tribulation.
He draws out the afflicted in his affliction, And uncovers their ear 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.
And He also moved you from a narrow place [To] a broad place—no constriction under it, And the sitting beyond of your table has been full of fatness.
17 Your case has been judged like that of the impious; you will withdraw your plea and your judgment.
And you have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked, Judgment and justice are upheld because of fury,
18 Therefore, do not let anger overwhelm you so that you oppress another; neither should you allow a multitude of gifts to influence you.
Lest He move you with a stroke, And the abundance of an atonement not turn you aside.
19 Lay down your greatness without distress, and put aside all of your power with courage.
Does He value your riches? He has gold, and all the forces of power.
20 Do not prolong the night, even if people rise on their behalf.
Do not desire the night, For the going up of peoples in their stead.
21 Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity; for, after your misery, you have begun to follow this.
Take heed—do not turn to iniquity, For you have fixed on this Rather than [on] affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his strength, and there is no one like him among the law-givers.
Behold, God sits on high by His power, Who [is] like Him—a teacher?
23 Who is able to investigate his ways? And who can say, “You have done iniquity,” to him?
Who has appointed to Him His way? And who said, You have done iniquity?
24 Remember that you are ignorant of his work, yet men have sung its praises.
Remember that you magnify His work That men have beheld.
25 All men consider him; and each one ponders from a distance.
All men have looked on it, Man looks attentively from afar.
26 Behold, God is great, defeating our knowledge; the number of his years is inestimable.
Behold, God [is] high, And we do not know the number of His years, Indeed, there [is] no searching.
27 He carries away the drops of rain, and he sends forth showers like a raging whirlpool;
When He diminishes droppings of the waters, They refine rain according to its vapor,
28 they flow from the clouds that are woven above everything.
Which clouds drop, They distill on man abundantly.
29 If he wills it, he extends the clouds as his tent
Indeed, do [any] understand The spreadings out of a cloud? The noises of His dwelling place?
30 and shines with his light from above; likewise, he covers the oceans within his tent.
Behold, He has spread His light over it, And He has covered the roots of the sea,
31 For he judges the people by these things, and he gives food to a multitude of mortals.
For He judges peoples by them, He gives food in abundance.
32 Within his hands, he hides the light, and he commands it to come forth again.
By two palms He has covered the light, And lays a charge over it in meeting,
33 He announces it to his friend, for it is his possession and he is able to reach out to it.
His shout shows it, The livestock also, the rising [storm].”