Job 36
1 ELIHU also proceeded, and said,
Then continued Elihu, and said,
2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.
Wait for me a little, and I will instruct thee; for [I have] still some words on God's behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
I will lift up my knowledge for him who is afar, and for my Maker will I obtain righteousness.
4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
For truly no falsehood is [in] my words: one that is upright in [his] opinions [dealeth now] with thee.
5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength of intellect.
6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
He permitteth not the wicked to live; but he procureth justice for the afflicted.
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 withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous; but [he placeth them] with kings on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, 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 if they be entangled in the cords of affliction:
9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
Then doth he tell them of their work, and of their transgressions, when they had become strong.
10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
And he openeth thus their ear to correction, and saith that they should return from wrong-doing.
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 will spend their days in happiness, 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 hearken not, they will pass away through the sword, and they will perish in want of knowledge.
13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
But the hypocrites in heart persevere in wrath; they will not offer entreaty when he bindeth them:
14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
Their soul will die in youth, and their life, among the incestuous.
15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
He delivereth the afflicted through his affliction, and openeth through oppression his ear.
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.
And also thee hath he incited away from the jaws of distress into a wide space, on the site of which there is no straitness; and what is set on thy table is full of fatness.
17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
But if thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: [divine] judgment and decree will support each other.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
For there would be fury, If aught were to incite thee to utter an abundance [of rebellious words]; and the greatness of the infliction must not mislead thee.
19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold ore, nor all the highest forces of strength.
20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
Desire then not eagerly the night, when nations pass away in their place.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
Take heed, turn not thyself to wrong-doing, so that thou wouldst choose this because of [thy] affliction.
22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
Behold, God is exalted by his power: who is an instructer like him?
23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
Who hath given him a charge concerning his way? or who hath ever said, Thou hast acted unjustly?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
Reflect, that thou shouldst magnify his work, which [other] men have beheld.
25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.
All men have looked at it [with astonishment]; the mortal gazeth at it from afar.
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 comprehend him not, the number of his years can truly not be searched out.
27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
For he taketh away drops of water, which are purified into rain in his mist:
28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
These drop down out of the skies; they distil upon the multitude of men.
29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
But [what man] can understand the outspreadings of the clouds? the tumult of his tabernacle?
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
Behold, he spreadeth out over it his light, and covereth up the roots of the sea.
31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
For by means of them he judgeth nations, he giveth food in superfluity.
32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
[His] hands he covereth with light; and he commandeth it to strike the one who striveth against him.
33 The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
The noise of his storm telleth of it, yea, the cattle also, of the rising tempest.
