Job 36
1 And Elihu proceeded and said,
And Elihu continued:
2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet words for 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 fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Creator.
I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
4 For truly my words shall be no falsehood: one perfect in knowledge is with thee.
For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Lo, God is mighty, but despiseth not [any]; mighty in strength of understanding:
Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He saveth not the wicked alive; but he doeth justice to the afflicted.
He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.
7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne doth he even set them for ever; 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, bound in fetters, they be held in cords of affliction,
And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,
9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions, because they have increased.
then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
10 And he openeth their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they hearken and serve [him], they shall accomplish their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.
12 But if they hearken not, they shall pass away by the sword, and expire without knowledge.
But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
13 But the godless in heart heap up anger; they cry not when he bindeth them:
The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.
14 Their soul dieth in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.
15 But he delivereth the afflicted in his affliction, and openeth their ear in [their] oppression.
God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.
16 Even so would he have allured thee out of the jaws of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and the supply of thy table [would 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 But thou art full of the judgments of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee].
But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.
18 Because there is wrath, [beware] lest it take thee away through chastisement: then a great ransom could not avail thee.
Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.
19 Will he esteem thy riches? Not gold, nor all the resources of strength!
Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?
20 Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off from their place.
Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.
21 Take heed, turn not to iniquity; for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.
22 Lo, God is exalted in his power: who teacheth as he?
Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?
23 Who hath appointed him his way? or who hath said, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?
Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men celebrate.
Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.
25 All men look at it; man beholdeth [it] afar off.
All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.
26 Lo, God is great, and we comprehend [him] not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For he draweth up the drops of water: they distil in rain from the vapour which he formeth,
For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,
28 Which the skies pour down [and] drop upon man abundantly.
which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.
29 But can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, [or] the crashing of his pavilion?
Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?
30 Lo, he spreadeth his light around him, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.
31 For with them he judgeth the peoples; he giveth food in abundance.
For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.
32 [His] hands he covereth with lightning, and commandeth it where it is to strike.
He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
33 His thundering declareth concerning him; the cattle even, concerning its coming.
The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.
