Job 36
1 And Elihu proceeded and said,
Elihu continued speaking.
2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet words for God.
“Be patient with me just a little while longer and let me explain. I still have something to say on God's behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Creator.
I will share my extensive knowledge, and I will prove my Creator is in the right.
4 For truly my words shall be no falsehood: one perfect in knowledge is with thee.
I assure you that what I'm saying are not lies, for I am a man whose knowledge is of the highest order.
5 Lo, God is mighty, but despiseth not [any]; mighty in strength of understanding:
God is mighty, but doesn't despise anyone; he is powerful in strength and understanding.
6 He saveth not the wicked alive; but he doeth justice to the afflicted.
He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives justice to the oppressed.
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 always pays attention those who do right, and places them on thrones with kings, honoring them eternally.
8 And if, bound in fetters, they be held in cords of affliction,
If they are bound in chains, tied down by ropes of suffering,
9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions, because they have increased.
then he explains to them what they've done—their arrogant sins.
10 And he openeth their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
He makes them pay attention and orders them to stop sinning.
11 If they hearken and serve [him], they shall accomplish their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
If they listen and do what God says they will live out their lives in happiness.
12 But if they hearken not, they shall pass away by the sword, and expire without knowledge.
But if they do not listen they will die a violent death, ignorant of God.
13 But the godless in heart heap up anger; they cry not when he bindeth them:
Those who reject God hold on to their bitterness. Even when he disciplines them they do not cry out to him for help.
14 Their soul dieth in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
They die in their youth; their lives end among the male temple prostitutes.
15 But he delivereth the afflicted in his affliction, and openeth their ear in [their] oppression.
Through suffering God saves those who suffer; he gets their attention through their troubles.
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.
God is trying to rescue you from the jaws of trouble to a place of freedom and safety, filling your table full of the very best food.
17 But thou art full of the judgments of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee].
But you are preoccupied with the fate of the wicked; judgment and justice fill your mind.
18 Because there is wrath, [beware] lest it take thee away through chastisement: then a great ransom could not avail thee.
But be careful that your anger doesn't seduce you into mockery; and don't let the size of the ‘bribe’ lead you into sin.
19 Will he esteem thy riches? Not gold, nor all the resources of strength!
Will your cry for help sustain you when troubles come?
20 Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off from their place.
Do not long for the night when people are suddenly taken away.
21 Take heed, turn not to iniquity; for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
Watch out that you don't turn to evil! For it's because of this that you are being tested through suffering.
22 Lo, God is exalted in his power: who teacheth as he?
Look how much power God has! What teacher is like him?
23 Who hath appointed him his way? or who hath said, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?
Who has instructed him what to do? Who can say to him ‘You have done wrong’?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men celebrate.
Instead you should praise him for what he has done, as people have done in song.
25 All men look at it; man beholdeth [it] afar off.
Everyone has seen God's creation, though only from a distance.
26 Lo, God is great, and we comprehend [him] not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
See how great God is—more than we can understand! No one can count his years.
27 For he draweth up the drops of water: they distil in rain from the vapour which he formeth,
He draws up the water and distils it into the dew and the rain.
28 Which the skies pour down [and] drop upon man abundantly.
The clouds pour down rain, falling plentifully on humankind.
29 But can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, [or] the crashing of his pavilion?
Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out, or how thunder roars from where he lives?
30 Lo, he spreadeth his light around him, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
See how he scatters lightning around him, and covers the depths of the sea in darkness.
31 For with them he judgeth the peoples; he giveth food in abundance.
By these actions he rules the people, he provides abundant food.
32 [His] hands he covereth with lightning, and commandeth it where it is to strike.
He holds lightning in his hands and commands where it should strike.
33 His thundering declareth concerning him; the cattle even, concerning its coming.
Thunder declares his presence—even cattle know when a storm is coming.
