< Job 36 >

1 And Elihu proceeded and said,
Elihu also proceeded, and said:
2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet words for God.
Suffer me a little, and I will tell thee; for there are yet words on God's behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Creator.
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words shall be no falsehood: one perfect in knowledge is with thee.
For truly my words are not false; one that is upright in mind is with thee.
5 Lo, God is mighty, but despiseth not [any]; mighty in strength of understanding:
Behold, God is mighty, yet He despiseth not any; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He saveth not the wicked alive; but he doeth justice to the afflicted.
He preserveth not the life of the wicked; but giveth to the poor their right.
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 withdraweth not His eyes from the righteous; but with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.
8 And if, bound in fetters, they be held in cords of affliction,
And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions, because they have increased.
Then He declareth unto them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
10 And he openeth their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11 If they hearken and serve [him], they shall accomplish their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
If they hearken and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they hearken not, they shall pass away by the sword, and expire without knowledge.
But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13 But the godless in heart heap up anger; they cry not when he bindeth them:
But they that are godless in heart lay up anger; they cry not for help when He bindeth them.
14 Their soul dieth in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
Their soul perisheth in youth, and their life as that of the depraved.
15 But he delivereth the afflicted in his affliction, and openeth their ear in [their] oppression.
He delivereth the afflicted by His affliction, and openeth their ear by tribulation.
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.
Yea, He hath allured thee out of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which is set on thy table is full of fatness;
17 But thou art full of the judgments of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee].
And thou art full of the judgment of the wicked; judgment and justice take hold on them.
18 Because there is wrath, [beware] lest it take thee away through chastisement: then a great ransom could not avail thee.
For beware of wrath, lest thou be led away by thy sufficiency; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.
19 Will he esteem thy riches? Not gold, nor all the resources of strength!
Will thy riches avail, that are without stint, or all the forces of thy strength?
20 Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off from their place.
Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, turn not to iniquity; for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
Take heed, regard not iniquity; for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
22 Lo, God is exalted in his power: who teacheth as he?
Behold, God doeth loftily 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 hath enjoined Him His way? Or who hath said: 'Thou hast wrought unrighteousness'?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men celebrate.
Remember that thou magnify His work, whereof men have sung.
25 All men look at it; man beholdeth [it] afar off.
All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off.
26 Lo, God is great, and we comprehend [him] not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
Behold, 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 draweth away the drops of water, which distil rain from His vapour;
28 Which the skies pour down [and] drop upon man abundantly.
Which the skies pour down and drop upon the multitudes of men.
29 But can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, [or] the crashing of his pavilion?
Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the crashings of His pavilion?
30 Lo, he spreadeth his light around him, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
Behold, He spreadeth His light upon it; and He covereth the depths of the sea.
31 For with them he judgeth the peoples; he giveth food in abundance.
For by these He judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.
32 [His] hands he covereth with lightning, and commandeth it where it is to strike.
He covereth His hands with the lightning, and giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.
33 His thundering declareth concerning him; the cattle even, concerning its coming.
The noise thereof telleth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up.

< Job 36 >