Job 36

1 ELIHU also proceeded, and said,

Elihu also proceeded, and said,

2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.

Allow me a little, and I will show thee. For I have yet somewhat to say on God's behalf.

3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my maker.

4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

(For truly my words are not false.) He who is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.

He does not preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.

7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but he sets them forever with kings upon the throne, and they are exalted.

8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;

And if they be bound in fetters, and be taken in the cords of afflictions,

9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

He also opens their ear to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.

11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

If they hearken and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

But if they do not hearken, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They do not cry for help when he binds them.

14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

They die in youth, and their life perishes among the unclean.

15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.

He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.

16 Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress into a broad place, where there is no confinement, and that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness.

17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.

But thou have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold,

18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

and there shall be wrath upon the impious because of the ungodliness of bribes which the unrighteous receive.

19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

Will thy cry not avail in distress, or all the forces of strength?

20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

Do not desire the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

Take heed. Do not turn to iniquity, for thou have fixed on this because of affliction.

22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

Behold, God does loftily in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

Who has enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou have wrought unrighteousness?

24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

Remember that thou magnify his work, of which men have sung.

25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

All men have looked on it. Man beholds it afar off.

26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

Behold, God is great, and we do not know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.

27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

For he draws up the drops of water, which distil in rain from his vapor,

28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly.

29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?

30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

Behold, he spreads his light around him, and he covers the bottom of the sea.

31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

For by these he judges the peoples. He gives food in abundance.

32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.

He covers his hands with the lightning, and gives it a command that it strike the mark.

33 The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

The noise of it tells concerning him. The cattle also concerning the storm that comes up.