Job 36
1 Elihu continued speaking.
And Elius further continued, 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.
Wait for me yet a little while, that I may teach you: for there is yet speech in me.
3 I will share my extensive knowledge, and I will prove my Creator is in the right.
Having fetched my knowledge from afar, and according to my works,
4 I assure you that what I'm saying are not lies, for I am a man whose knowledge is of the highest order.
I will speak just things truly, and you shall not unjustly receive unjust words.
5 God is mighty, but doesn't despise anyone; he is powerful in strength and understanding.
But know that the Lord will not cast off an innocent man: being mighty in strength of wisdom,
6 He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives justice to the oppressed.
he will not by any means save alive the ungodly: and he will grant the judgment of the poor.
7 He always pays attention those who do right, and places them on thrones with kings, honoring them eternally.
He will not turn away his eyes from the righteous, but [they shall be] with kings on the throne: and he will establish them in triumph, and they shall be exalted.
8 If they are bound in chains, tied down by ropes of suffering,
But they that are bound in fetters shall be holden in cords of poverty.
9 then he explains to them what they've done—their arrogant sins.
And he shall recount to them their works, and their transgressions, for such will act with violence.
10 He makes them pay attention and orders them to stop sinning.
But he will listen to the righteous: and he has said that they shall turn from unrighteousness.
11 If they listen and do what God says they will live out their lives in happiness.
If they should hear and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in honor.
12 But if they do not listen they will die a violent death, ignorant of God.
But he preserves not the ungodly; because they are not willing to know the Lord, and because when reproved they were disobedient.
13 Those who reject God hold on to their bitterness. Even when he disciplines them they do not cry out to him for help.
And the hypocrites in heart will array wrath [against themselves]; they will not cry, because he has bound them.
14 They die in their youth; their lives end among the male temple prostitutes.
Therefore let their soul die in youth, and their life be wounded by messengers [of death].
15 Through suffering God saves those who suffer; he gets their attention through their troubles.
Because they afflicted the weak and helpless: and he will vindicate the judgment of the meek.
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.
And he has also enticed you out of the mouth of the enemy:
17 But you are preoccupied with the fate of the wicked; judgment and justice fill your mind.
[there is] a deep gulf [and] a rushing stream beneath it, and your table came down full of fatness. Judgment shall not fail from the righteous;
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.
but there shall be wrath upon the ungodly, by reason of the ungodliness of the bribes which they received for iniquities.
19 Will your cry for help sustain you when troubles come?
Let not [your] mind willingly turn you aside from the petition of the feeble that are in distress.
20 Do not long for the night when people are suddenly taken away.
And draw not forth all the mighty [men] by night, so that the people should go up instead of them.
21 Watch out that you don't turn to evil! For it's because of this that you are being tested through suffering.
But take heed lest you do that which is wrong: for of this you has made choice because of poverty.
22 Look how much power God has! What teacher is like him?
Behold, the Mighty One shall prevail by his strength: for who is powerful as he is?
23 Who has instructed him what to do? Who can say to him ‘You have done wrong’?
And who is he that examines his works? or who can say, he has wrought injustice?
24 Instead you should praise him for what he has done, as people have done in song.
Remember that his works are great [beyond] those which men have attempted.
25 Everyone has seen God's creation, though only from a distance.
Every man has seen in himself, how many mortals are wounded.
26 See how great God is—more than we can understand! No one can count his years.
Behold, the Mighty One is great, and we shall not know [him]: the number of his years is even infinite.
27 He draws up the water and distils it into the dew and the rain.
And the drops of rain are numbered by him, and shall be poured out in rain to form a cloud.
28 The clouds pour down rain, falling plentifully on humankind.
The ancient [heavens] shall flow, and the clouds overshadow innumerable mortals: he has fixed a time to cattle, and they know the order of rest. [Yet] by all these things your understanding is not astonished, neither is your mind disturbed in [your] body.
29 Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out, or how thunder roars from where he lives?
And though one should understand the outspreadings of the clouds, [or] the measure of his tabernacle;
30 See how he scatters lightning around him, and covers the depths of the sea in darkness.
behold he will stretch his bow against him, and he covers the bottom of the sea.
31 By these actions he rules the people, he provides abundant food.
For by them he will judge the nations: he will give food to him that has strength.
32 He holds lightning in his hands and commands where it should strike.
He has hidden the light in [his] hands, and given charge concerning it to the interposing [cloud].
33 Thunder declares his presence—even cattle know when a storm is coming.
The Lord will declare concerning this [to] his friend: [but there is] a portion also for unrighteousness.
