Job 36
1 Elihu continued speaking.
And Elihu went on to say,
2 “Be patient with me just a little while longer and let me explain. I still have something to say on God's behalf.
Give me a little more time, and I will make it clear to you; for I have still something to say for God.
3 I will share my extensive knowledge, and I will prove my Creator is in the right.
I will get my knowledge from far, and I will give righteousness 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 not false; one who has all knowledge is talking with you.
5 God is mighty, but doesn't despise anyone; he is powerful in strength and understanding.
Truly, God gives up the hard-hearted, and will not give life to the sinner.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives justice to the oppressed.
His eyes are ever on the upright, and he gives to the crushed their right;
7 He always pays attention those who do right, and places them on thrones with kings, honoring them eternally.
Lifting them up to the seat of kings, and making them safe for ever.
8 If they are bound in chains, tied down by ropes of suffering,
And if they have been prisoned in chains, and taken in cords of trouble,
9 then he explains to them what they've done—their arrogant sins.
Then he makes clear to them what they have done, even their evil works in which they have taken pride.
10 He makes them pay attention and orders them to stop sinning.
Their ear is open to his teaching, and he gives them orders so that their hearts may be turned from evil.
11 If they listen and do what God says they will live out their lives in happiness.
If they give ear to his voice, and do his word, then he gives them long life, and years full of pleasure.
12 But if they do not listen they will die a violent death, ignorant of God.
But if not, they come to their end, and give up their breath 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.
Those who have no fear of God keep wrath stored up in their hearts; they give no cry for help when they are made prisoners.
14 They die in their youth; their lives end among the male temple prostitutes.
They come to their end while they are still young, their life is short like that of those who are used for sex purposes in the worship of their gods.
15 Through suffering God saves those who suffer; he gets their attention through their troubles.
He makes the wrong done to the poor the way of their salvation, opening their ears by their trouble.
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.
17 But you are preoccupied with the fate of the wicked; judgment and justice fill your mind.
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.
19 Will your cry for help sustain you when troubles come?
20 Do not long for the night when people are suddenly taken away.
21 Watch out that you don't turn to evil! For it's because of this that you are being tested through suffering.
Take care not to be turned to sin, for you have taken evil for your part in place of sorrow.
22 Look how much power God has! What teacher is like him?
Truly God is lifted up in strength; who is a ruler like him?
23 Who has instructed him what to do? Who can say to him ‘You have done wrong’?
Who ever gave orders to him, or said to him, You have done wrong?
24 Instead you should praise him for what he has done, as people have done in song.
See that you give praise to his work, about which men make songs.
25 Everyone has seen God's creation, though only from a distance.
All people are looking on it; man sees it from far.
26 See how great God is—more than we can understand! No one can count his years.
Truly, God is great, greater than all our knowledge; the number of his years may not be searched out.
27 He draws up the water and distils it into the dew and the rain.
For he takes up the drops from the sea; he sends them through his mist as rain,
28 The clouds pour down rain, falling plentifully on humankind.
Flowing down from the sky, and dropping on the peoples.
29 Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out, or how thunder roars from where he lives?
And who has knowledge of how the clouds are stretched out, or of the thunders of his tent?
30 See how he scatters lightning around him, and covers the depths of the sea in darkness.
See, he is stretching out his mist, covering the tops of the mountains with it.
31 By these actions he rules the people, he provides abundant food.
For by these he gives food to the peoples, and bread in full measure.
32 He holds lightning in his hands and commands where it should strike.
He takes the light in his hands, sending it against the mark.
33 Thunder declares his presence—even cattle know when a storm is coming.
The thunder makes clear his passion, and the storm gives news of his wrath.
