Job 36
1 Elihu also proceeded, and said:
Elihu continued speaking.
2 Suffer me a little, and I will tell thee; for there are yet words on God's behalf.
“Be patient with me just a little while longer and let me explain. I still have something to say on God's behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
I will share my extensive knowledge, and I will prove my Creator is in the right.
4 For truly my words are not false; one that is upright in mind is with thee.
I assure you that what I'm saying are not lies, for I am a man whose knowledge is of the highest order.
5 Behold, God is mighty, yet He despiseth not any; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
God is mighty, but doesn't despise anyone; he is powerful in strength and understanding.
6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked; but giveth to the poor their right.
He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives justice to the oppressed.
7 He withdraweth not His eyes from the righteous; but with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.
He always pays attention those who do right, and places them on thrones with kings, honoring them eternally.
8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
If they are bound in chains, tied down by ropes of suffering,
9 Then He declareth unto them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
then he explains to them what they've done—their arrogant sins.
10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
He makes them pay attention and orders them to stop sinning.
11 If they hearken and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
If they listen and do what God says they will live out their lives in happiness.
12 But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
But if they do not listen they will die a violent death, ignorant of God.
13 But they that are godless in heart lay up anger; they cry not for help when He bindeth them.
Those who reject God hold on to their bitterness. Even when he disciplines them they do not cry out to him for help.
14 Their soul perisheth in youth, and their life as that of the depraved.
They die in their youth; their lives end among the male temple prostitutes.
15 He delivereth the afflicted by His affliction, and openeth their ear by tribulation.
Through suffering God saves those who suffer; he gets their attention through their troubles.
16 Yea, He hath allured thee out of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which is set on thy table is full of fatness;
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 And thou art full of the judgment of the wicked; judgment and justice take hold on them.
But you are preoccupied with the fate of the wicked; judgment and justice fill your mind.
18 For beware of wrath, lest thou be led away by thy sufficiency; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.
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 thy riches avail, that are without stint, or all the forces of thy strength?
Will your cry for help sustain you when troubles come?
20 Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.
Do not long for the night when people are suddenly taken away.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity; for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
Watch out that you don't turn to evil! For it's because of this that you are being tested through suffering.
22 Behold, God doeth loftily in His power; who is a teacher like Him?
Look how much power God has! What teacher is like him?
23 Who hath enjoined Him His way? Or who hath said: 'Thou hast wrought unrighteousness'?
Who has instructed him what to do? Who can say to him ‘You have done wrong’?
24 Remember that thou magnify His work, whereof men have sung.
Instead you should praise him for what he has done, as people have done in song.
25 All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off.
Everyone has seen God's creation, though only from a distance.
26 Behold, God is great, beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.
See how great God is—more than we can understand! No one can count his years.
27 For He draweth away the drops of water, which distil rain from His vapour;
He draws up the water and distils it into the dew and the rain.
28 Which the skies pour down and drop upon the multitudes of men.
The clouds pour down rain, falling plentifully on humankind.
29 Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the crashings of His pavilion?
Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out, or how thunder roars from where he lives?
30 Behold, He spreadeth His light upon it; and He covereth the depths of the sea.
See how he scatters lightning around him, and covers the depths of the sea in darkness.
31 For by these He judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.
By these actions he rules the people, he provides abundant food.
32 He covereth His hands with the lightning, and giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.
He holds lightning in his hands and commands where it should strike.
33 The noise thereof telleth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up.
Thunder declares his presence—even cattle know when a storm is coming.
