Job 36
1 Elihu continued speaking.
Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2 “Be patient with me just a little while longer and let me explain. I still have something to say on 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 share my extensive knowledge, and I will prove my Creator is in the right.
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe 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 shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 God is mighty, but doesn't despise anyone; he is powerful in strength and understanding.
Behold, God is mighty, and despises not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives justice to the oppressed.
He preserves not the life of the wicked: but gives right to the poor.
7 He always pays attention those who do right, and places them on thrones with kings, honoring them eternally.
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 If they are bound in chains, tied down by ropes of suffering,
And if they be bound in fetters, and be held in cords of affliction;
9 then he explains to them what they've done—their arrogant sins.
Then he shows them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
10 He makes them pay attention and orders them to stop sinning.
He opens also their ear to discipline, and commands that they return 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, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they do not listen they will die a violent death, ignorant of God.
But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall 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.
But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he binds them.
14 They die in their youth; their lives end among the male temple prostitutes.
They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
15 Through suffering God saves those who suffer; he gets their attention through their troubles.
He delivers the poor in his 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.
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 But you are preoccupied with the fate of the wicked; judgment and justice fill your mind.
But you have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on 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.
Because there is wrath, beware lest he take you away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver you.
19 Will your cry for help sustain you when troubles come?
Will he esteem your riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
20 Do not long for the night when people are suddenly taken away.
Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Watch out that you don't turn to evil! For it's because of this that you are being tested through suffering.
Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this have you chosen rather than affliction.
22 Look how much power God has! What teacher is like him?
Behold, God exalts by his power: who teaches like him?
23 Who has instructed him what to do? Who can say to him ‘You have done wrong’?
Who has enjoined him his way? or who can say, You have worked iniquity?
24 Instead you should praise him for what he has done, as people have done in song.
Remember that you magnify his work, which men behold.
25 Everyone has seen God's creation, though only from a distance.
Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.
26 See how great God is—more than we can understand! No one can count his years.
Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27 He draws up the water and distils it into the dew and the rain.
For he makes small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapor thereof:
28 The clouds pour down rain, falling plentifully on humankind.
Which the clouds do drop and distil on man abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out, or how thunder roars from where he lives?
Also can any understand the spreading of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
30 See how he scatters lightning around him, and covers the depths of the sea in darkness.
Behold, he spreads his light on it, and covers the bottom of the sea.
31 By these actions he rules the people, he provides abundant food.
For by them judges he the people; he gives meat in abundance.
32 He holds lightning in his hands and commands where it should strike.
With clouds he covers the light; and commands it not to shine by the cloud that comes between.
33 Thunder declares his presence—even cattle know when a storm is coming.
The noise thereof shows concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapor.
