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 shew thee that [I have] yet to speak 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 [shall] not [be] false: he that is perfect in knowledge [is] with thee.

5 Lo, God is mighty, but despiseth not [any]; mighty in strength of understanding:

Behold, God [is] mighty, and despiseth not [any: he is] mighty in strength [and] wisdom.

6 He saveth not the wicked alive; but he doeth justice to the afflicted.

He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.

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 [are they] on the throne; yea, he doth establish 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 sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

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 obey 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 obey 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 the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

14 Their soul dieth in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

They die in youth, and their life [is] among the unclean.

15 But he delivereth the afflicted in his affliction, and openeth their ear in [their] oppression.

He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth 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.

Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait [into] a broad place, where [there is] no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table [should be] full of fatness.

17 But thou art full of the judgments of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee].

But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee].

18 Because there is wrath, [beware] lest it take thee away through chastisement: then a great ransom could not avail thee.

Because [there is] wrath, [beware] lest he take thee away with [his] stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

19 Will he esteem thy riches? Not gold, nor all the resources of strength!

Will he esteem thy riches? [no], not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

20 Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off from their place.

Desire not the night, when people 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 exalteth by his power: who teacheth 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 can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men celebrate.

Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

25 All men look at it; man beholdeth [it] afar off.

Every man may see it; man may behold [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, and we know [him] not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

27 For he draweth up the drops of water: they distil in rain from the vapour which he formeth,

For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

28 Which the skies pour down [and] drop upon man abundantly.

Which the clouds do drop [and] distil upon man abundantly.

29 But can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, [or] the crashing of his pavilion?

Also can [any] understand the spreadings of the clouds, [or] the noise of his tabernacle?

30 Lo, he spreadeth his light around him, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

31 For with them he judgeth the peoples; he giveth food in abundance.

For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

32 [His] hands he covereth with lightning, and commandeth it where it is to strike.

With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it [not to shine] by [the cloud] that cometh betwixt.

33 His thundering declareth concerning him; the cattle even, concerning its coming.

The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.