Job 36
1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,
And Elihu continued:
2 Suffer me a little, and I will show you that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.
“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from far, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with you.
For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Behold, God is mighty, and despises not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He perserves not the life of the wicked: but gives right to the poor.
He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.
7 He withdraws not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he does establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be held in cords of affliction;
And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,
9 Then he shows them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
10 He opens also their ear to discipline, and commands that they return from iniquity.
He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.
12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he binds them.
The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.
14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.
15 He delivers the poor in his affliction, and opens their ears in oppression.
God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.
16 Even so would he have removed you out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no strictness; and that which should be set on your table should be full of fatness.
Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.
17 But you have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on you.
But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take you away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver you.
Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.
19 Will he esteem your riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?
20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this have you chosen rather than affliction.
Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.
22 Behold, God exalts by his power: who teaches like him?
Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?
23 Who has commanded with authority him his way? or who can say, You have wrought iniquity?
Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 Remember that you magnify his work, which men behold.
Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.
25 Every man may see it; man may behold it far off.
All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For he makes small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,
28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.
29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?
30 Behold, he spreads his light upon it, and covers the bottom of the sea.
See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by them judges he the people; he gives food in abundance.
For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.
32 With clouds he covers the light; and commands it not to shine by the cloud that comes between.
He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
33 The noise thereof shows concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.
