< Job 36 >

1 Eliu also proceeded, and said:
Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet somewhat to speak in God’s behalf.
Suffer me a little, and I will show you that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.
3 I will repeat my knowledge from the beginning, and I will prove my Maker just.
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For indeed my words are without a lie, and perfect knowledge shall be proved to thee.
For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 God doth not cast away the mighty, whereas he himself also is mighty.
Behold, God is mighty, and despises not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
6 But he saveth not the wicked, and he giveth judgment to the poor.
He preserves not the life of the wicked: but gives right to the poor.
7 He will not take away his eyes from the just, and he placeth kings on the throne for ever, and they are exalted.
He withdraws not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yes, he does establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
8 And if they shall be in chains, and be bound with the cords of poverty:
And if they be bound in fetters, and be held in cords of affliction;
9 He shall shew them their works, and their wicked deeds, because they have been violent.
Then he shows them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
10 He also shall open their ear, to correct them: and shall speak, that they may return from iniquity.
He opens also their ear to discipline, and commands that they return from iniquity.
11 If they shall hear and observe, they shall accomplish their days in good, and their years in glory.
If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they hear not, they shall pass by the sword, and shall be consumed in folly.
But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13 Dissemblers and crafty men prove the wrath of God, neither shall they cry when they are bound.
But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he binds them.
14 Their soul shall die in a storm, and their life among the effeminate.
They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
15 He shall deliver the poor out of his distress, and shall open his ear in affliction.
He delivers the poor in his affliction, and opens their ears in oppression.
16 Therefore he shall set thee at large out of the narrow mouth, and which hath no foundation under it: and the rest of thy table shall be full of fatness.
Even so would he have removed you out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no narrow place; and that which should be set on your table should be full of fatness.
17 Thy cause hath been judged as that of the wicked, cause and judgment thou shalt recover.
But you have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on you.
18 Therefore let not anger overcome thee to oppress any man: neither let multitude of gifts turn thee aside.
Because there is wrath, beware lest he take you away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver you.
19 Lay down thy greatness without tribulation, and all the mighty of strength.
Will he esteem your riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
20 Prolong not the night that people may come up for them.
Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Beware thou turn not aside to iniquity: for this thou hast begun to follow after misery.
Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this have you chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God is high in his strength, and none is like him among the lawgivers.
Behold, God exalts by his power: who teaches like him?
23 Who can search out his ways? or who can say to him: Thou has wrought iniquity?
Who has enjoined him his way? or who can say, You have worked iniquity?
24 Remember that thou knowest not his work, concerning which men have sung.
Remember that you magnify his work, which men behold.
25 All men see him, every one beholdeth afar off.
Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.
26 Behold, God is great, exceeding our knowledge: the number of his years is inestimable.
Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27 He lifteth up the drops of rain, and poureth out showers like floods:
For he makes small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapor thereof:
28 Which flow from the clouds that cover all above.
Which the clouds do drop and distil on man abundantly.
29 If he will spread out clouds as his tent,
Also can any understand the spreading of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
30 And lighten with his light from above, he shall cover also the ends of the sea.
Behold, he spreads his light on it, and covers the bottom of the sea.
31 For by these he judgeth people, and giveth food to many mortals.
For by them judges he the people; he gives meat in abundance.
32 In his hands he hideth the light, and commandeth it to come again.
With clouds he covers the light; and commands it not to shine by the cloud that comes between.
33 He sheweth his friend concerning it, that it is his possession, and that he may come up to it.
The noise thereof shows concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapor.

< Job 36 >