Job 36
1 Elihu continued speaking.
And Elihu continued:
2 “Be patient with me just a little while longer and let me explain. I still have something to say on God's behalf.
“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.
3 I will share my extensive knowledge, and I will prove my Creator is in the right.
I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
4 I assure you that what I'm saying are not lies, for I am a man whose knowledge is of the highest order.
For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 God is mighty, but doesn't despise anyone; he is powerful in strength and understanding.
Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives justice to the oppressed.
He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.
7 He always pays attention those who do right, and places them on thrones with kings, honoring them eternally.
He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
8 If they are bound in chains, tied down by ropes of suffering,
And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,
9 then he explains to them what they've done—their arrogant sins.
then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
10 He makes them pay attention and orders them to stop sinning.
He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they listen and do what God says they will live out their lives in happiness.
If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.
12 But if they do not listen they will die a violent death, ignorant of God.
But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
13 Those who reject God hold on to their bitterness. Even when he disciplines them they do not cry out to him for help.
The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.
14 They die in their youth; their lives end among the male temple prostitutes.
They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.
15 Through suffering God saves those who suffer; he gets their attention through their troubles.
God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.
16 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.
Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.
17 But you are preoccupied with the fate of the wicked; judgment and justice fill your mind.
But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.
18 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.
Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.
19 Will your cry for help sustain you when troubles come?
Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?
20 Do not long for the night when people are suddenly taken away.
Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.
21 Watch out that you don't turn to evil! For it's because of this that you are being tested through suffering.
Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.
22 Look how much power God has! What teacher is like him?
Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?
23 Who has instructed him what to do? Who can say to him ‘You have done wrong’?
Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 Instead you should praise him for what he has done, as people have done in song.
Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.
25 Everyone has seen God's creation, though only from a distance.
All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.
26 See how great God is—more than we can understand! No one can count his years.
Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.
27 He draws up the water and distils it into the dew and the rain.
For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,
28 The clouds pour down rain, falling plentifully on humankind.
which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.
29 Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out, or how thunder roars from where he lives?
Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?
30 See how he scatters lightning around him, and covers the depths of the sea in darkness.
See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.
31 By these actions he rules the people, he provides abundant food.
For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.
32 He holds lightning in his hands and commands where it should strike.
He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
33 Thunder declares his presence—even cattle know when a storm is coming.
The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.
