Job 36
1 And Elihu proceeded and said,
Elihu also continued, and said,
2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet words for God.
“Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for 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 get 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 who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Lo, God is mighty, but despiseth not [any]; mighty in strength of understanding:
“Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He saveth not the wicked alive; but he doeth justice to the afflicted.
He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives 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 doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
8 And if, bound in fetters, they be held in cords of affliction,
If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions, because they have increased.
then he shows 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 also opens their ears to instruction, and commands 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 listen and serve him, they will 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 don’t listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge.
13 But the godless in heart heap up anger; they cry not when he bindeth them:
“But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.
14 Their soul dieth in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
They die in youth. Their life perishes amongst the unclean.
15 But he delivereth the afflicted in his affliction, and openeth their ear in [their] oppression.
He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear 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.
Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a wide place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
17 But thou art full of the judgments of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee].
“But you are full of the judgement of the wicked. Judgement and justice take hold of you.
18 Because there is wrath, [beware] lest it take thee away through chastisement: then a great ransom could not avail thee.
Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
19 Will he esteem thy riches? Not gold, nor all the resources of strength!
Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
20 Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off from their place.
Don’t desire 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, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than 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 prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness’?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men celebrate.
“Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung.
25 All men look at it; man beholdeth [it] afar off.
All men have looked on it. Man sees 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 don’t know him. 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 the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapour,
28 Which the skies pour down [and] drop upon man abundantly.
which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.
29 But can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, [or] the crashing of his pavilion?
Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 Lo, he spreadeth his light around him, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
31 For with them he judgeth the peoples; he giveth food in abundance.
For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
32 [His] hands he covereth with lightning, and commandeth it where it is to strike.
He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
33 His thundering declareth concerning him; the cattle even, concerning its coming.
Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.
