< Job 36 >

1 Continuing in a similar manner, Eliu had this to say:
Elihu [finished by] saying this:
2 Bear with me for a little while and I will show you; for I have still more to say in favor of God.
“[Job, ] be patient with me a little longer, because I have something else to teach you. I have something else to say that God [wants you to know].
3 I will review my knowledge from the beginning, and I will prove my Maker to be just.
I will tell you what I have learned from many sources, in order to show that God, my creator, is just/fair.
4 For truly my words are without any falsehood and perfect knowledge will be proven to you.
I am not saying anything to you that is false; I, who am standing in front of you, am someone who understands things (very well/perfectly) [HYP].
5 God does not abandon the powerful, for he himself is also powerful.
“Hey, God is [very] powerful, and he does not despise anyone, and he understands everything.
6 But he does not save the impious, though he grants judgment to the poor.
He does not allow wicked people to remain alive, and he always acts justly toward those who are 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 always watches over [MTY] those who are righteous; he allows them to sit on thrones [and rule] with kings, and they are honored forever.
8 And, if they are in captivity, or are bound with the chains of poverty,
But if people [who commit crimes] are caught, they [are thrown into prison and] are caused to suffer by being fastened with chains.
9 he will reveal to them their works, as well as their sinfulness, in that they were violent.
When that happens, God shows them what they have done; he shows them the sins that they have committed, and he shows them that they have been proud/arrogant.
10 Likewise, he will open their ears to his correction, and he will speak to them, so that they may return from iniquity.
He causes them to listen [MTY] to what he is warning them, and he commands them to turn away from [doing what is] evil.
11 If they listen and obey, they will fill their days with goodness and complete their years in glory.
If they (listen to/heed) him and serve him, [after they get out of prison] they will prosper for all the years that they are alive and be peaceful/happy.
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 (listen/pay attention) to him, they will die violently, not knowing [why God is causing them to die].
13 The false and the crafty provoke the wrath of God, yet they do not cry out to him when they are chained.
“Godless/Wicked people continue being angry, and they do not cry out for help, [even] when God is punishing them.
14 Their soul will die in a storm, and their life, among the unmanly.
They die while they are still young, disgraced because of their very immoral behavior [EUP].
15 He will rescue the poor from his anguish, and he will open his ear during tribulation.
But God teaches people by causing them to suffer; by afflicting them, he causes them to listen to [MTY] what he is telling them.
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 Job, [I think that] God [wants to] bring you out of your troubles and allow you to live without distress; he wants your table to be full of very nice food.
17 Your case has been judged like that of the impious; you will withdraw your plea and your judgment.
But now, you are being punished [MTY] as wicked people are punished; [God] [PRS] has been punishing you (justly/as you deserve).
18 Therefore, do not let anger overwhelm you so that you oppress another; neither should you allow a multitude of gifts to influence you.
So be careful that you are not deceived by [desiring to acquire] money or that you are not ruined by [accepting] large bribes.
19 Lay down your greatness without distress, and put aside all of your power with courage.
[If you are deceived by those things, ] it certainly will not [RHQ] help you to cry out when you are distressed; all of your strength will not help you.
20 Do not prolong the night, even if people rise on their behalf.
Do not wish that it would be nighttime [in order that God will not see you and punish you], because night is the time when [even] people-groups are destroyed!
21 Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity; for, after your misery, you have begun to follow this.
Be careful not to [begin doing] evil things, because [God] has caused you to suffer to prevent you from doing evil.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his strength, and there is no one like him among the law-givers.
“Hey, God is extremely powerful; there is certainly [RHQ] no teacher who teaches like he does.
23 Who is able to investigate his ways? And who can say, “You have done iniquity,” to him?
No one has [RHQ] told him what he should do, and no one has [RHQ] said to him, ‘You have done what is wrong!’
24 Remember that you are ignorant of his work, yet men have sung its praises.
People have [always] sung to praise him, so you also should never forget to praise him for what he has done.
25 All men consider him; and each one ponders from a distance.
Everyone has seen [what he has done], but [sometimes] we can see it only from far away.
26 Behold, God is great, defeating our knowledge; the number of his years is inestimable.
“Hey, God is very great, and we are not able to know how great he is, and we do not know how old he is.
27 He carries away the drops of rain, and he sends forth showers like a raging whirlpool;
He draws water up [from the earth and puts it in clouds] and causes it to become rain.
28 they flow from the clouds that are woven above everything.
The rain pours down from the sky/clouds; God causes abundant showers to fall on everyone.
29 If he wills it, he extends the clouds as his tent
No one can [RHQ] understand how the clouds move [across the sky] or how it thunders in the sky where God lives.
30 and shines with his light from above; likewise, he covers the oceans within his tent.
He causes lightning to flash all around him, but he causes the bottom of the oceans to remain dark.
31 For he judges the people by these things, and he gives food to a multitude of mortals.
By providing plenty of rain for us, he enables us to have abundant food.
32 Within his hands, he hides the light, and he commands it to come forth again.
[It is as though] he holds the lightning in his hands, and [then] he commands it to strike where he wants it to.
33 He announces it to his friend, for it is his possession and he is able to reach out to it.
When we hear his thunder, we know that there will be a storm, and the cattle know it, too.”

< Job 36 >