Job 36
1 Elihu also proceeded and sayde,
Elihu [finished by] saying this:
2 Suffer me a litle, and I will instruct thee: for I haue yet to speake on Gods behalfe.
“[Job, ] be patient with me a little longer, because I have something else to teach you. I have something else to say that God [wants you to know].
3 I will fetche my knowledge afarre off, and will attribute righteousnes vnto my Maker.
I will tell you what I have learned from many sources, in order to show that God, my creator, is just/fair.
4 For truely my wordes shall not be false, and he that is perfect in knowledge, speaketh with thee.
I am not saying anything to you that is false; I, who am standing in front of you, am someone who understands things (very well/perfectly) [HYP].
5 Behold, the mighty God casteth away none that is mighty and valiant of courage.
“Hey, God is [very] powerful, and he does not despise anyone, and he understands everything.
6 He mainteineth not the wicked, but he giueth iudgement to the afflicted.
He does not allow wicked people to remain alive, and he always acts justly toward those who are poor.
7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous, but they are with Kings in ye throne, where he placeth them for euer: thus they are exalted.
He always watches over [MTY] those who are righteous; he allows them to sit on thrones [and rule] with kings, and they are honored forever.
8 And if they bee bound in fetters and tyed with the cordes of affliction,
But if people [who commit crimes] are caught, they [are thrown into prison and] are caused to suffer by being fastened with chains.
9 Then will he shewe them their worke and their sinnes, because they haue bene proude.
When that happens, God shows them what they have done; he shows them the sins that they have committed, and he shows them that they have been proud/arrogant.
10 He openeth also their eare to discipline, and commandeth them that they returne from iniquity.
He causes them to listen [MTY] to what he is warning them, and he commands them to turn away from [doing what is] evil.
11 If they obey and serue him, they shall end their dayes in prosperity, and their yeres in pleasures.
If they (listen to/heed) him and serve him, [after they get out of prison] they will prosper for all the years that they are alive and be peaceful/happy.
12 But if they wil not obey, they shall passe by the sworde, and perish without knowledge.
But if they do not (listen/pay attention) to him, they will die violently, not knowing [why God is causing them to die].
13 But the hypocrites of heart increase the wrath: for they call not when he bindeth them.
“Godless/Wicked people continue being angry, and they do not cry out for help, [even] when God is punishing them.
14 Their soule dyeth in youth, and their life among the whoremongers.
They die while they are still young, disgraced because of their very immoral behavior [EUP].
15 He deliuereth the poore in his affliction, and openeth their eare in trouble.
But God teaches people by causing them to suffer; by afflicting them, he causes them to listen to [MTY] what he is telling them.
16 Euen so woulde he haue taken thee out of the streight place into a broade place and not shut vp beneath: and that which resteth vpon thy table, had bene full of fat.
“And Job, [I think that] God [wants to] bring you out of your troubles and allow you to live without distress; he wants your table to be full of very nice food.
17 But thou art ful of the iudgement of the wicked, though iudgement and equitie maintaine all things.
But now, you are being punished [MTY] as wicked people are punished; [God] [PRS] has been punishing you (justly/as you deserve).
18 For Gods wrath is, least hee should take that away in thine abundance: for no multitude of giftes can deliuer thee.
So be careful that you are not deceived by [desiring to acquire] money or that you are not ruined by [accepting] large bribes.
19 Wil he regard thy riches? he regardeth not golde, nor all them that excel in strength.
[If you are deceived by those things, ] it certainly will not [RHQ] help you to cry out when you are distressed; all of your strength will not help you.
20 Be not carefull in the night, howe he destroyeth the people out of their place.
Do not wish that it would be nighttime [in order that God will not see you and punish you], because night is the time when [even] people-groups are destroyed!
21 Take thou heede: looke not to iniquitie: for thou hast chosen it rather then affliction.
Be careful not to [begin doing] evil things, because [God] has caused you to suffer to prevent you from doing evil.
22 Beholde, God exalteth by his power: what teacher is like him?
“Hey, God is extremely powerful; there is certainly [RHQ] no teacher who teaches like he does.
23 Who hath appointed to him his way? or who can say, Thou hast done wickedly?
No one has [RHQ] told him what he should do, and no one has [RHQ] said to him, ‘You have done what is wrong!’
24 Remember that thou magnifie his worke, which men behold.
People have [always] sung to praise him, so you also should never forget to praise him for what he has done.
25 All men see it, and men beholde it afarre off.
Everyone has seen [what he has done], but [sometimes] we can see it only from far away.
26 Beholde, God is excellent, and we knowe him not, neither can the nomber of his yeres bee searched out.
“Hey, God is very great, and we are not able to know how great he is, and we do not know how old he is.
27 When he restraineth the droppes of water, the rayne powreth down by the vapour thereof,
He draws water up [from the earth and puts it in clouds] and causes it to become rain.
28 Which raine the cloudes do droppe and let fall abundantly vpon man.
The rain pours down from the sky/clouds; God causes abundant showers to fall on everyone.
29 Who can know the diuisions of ye clouds and the thunders of his tabernacle?
No one can [RHQ] understand how the clouds move [across the sky] or how it thunders in the sky where God lives.
30 Beholde, he spreadeth his light vpon it, and couereth the bottome of the sea.
He causes lightning to flash all around him, but he causes the bottom of the oceans to remain dark.
31 For thereby hee iudgeth the people, and giueth meate abundantly.
By providing plenty of rain for us, he enables us to have abundant food.
32 He couereth the light with the clouds, and commandeth them to go against it.
[It is as though] he holds the lightning in his hands, and [then] he commands it to strike where he wants it to.
33 His companion sheweth him thereof, and there is anger in rising vp.
When we hear his thunder, we know that there will be a storm, and the cattle know it, too.”
