Job 36
1 Then continued Elihu, and said,
Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2 Wait for me a little, and I will instruct thee; for [I have] still some words 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 lift up my knowledge for him who is afar, and for my Maker will I obtain righteousness.
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my maker.
4 For truly no falsehood is [in] my words: one that is upright in [his] opinions [dealeth now] 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 of intellect.
Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He permitteth not the wicked to live; but he procureth justice for the afflicted.
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 [he placeth them] with kings 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 if they be entangled in the cords of affliction:
And if they be bound in fetters, and be taken in the cords of afflictions,
9 Then doth he tell them of their work, and of their transgressions, when they had become strong.
then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
10 And he openeth thus their ear to correction, and saith that they should return from wrong-doing.
He also opens their ear to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
11 If they hearken and serve [him], they will spend their days in happiness, 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 hearken not, they will pass away through the sword, and they will perish in want of 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 persevere in wrath; they will not offer entreaty 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 Their soul will die in youth, and their life, among the incestuous.
They die in youth, and their life perishes among the unclean.
15 He delivereth the afflicted through his affliction, and openeth through oppression his ear.
He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
16 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.
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 if thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: [divine] judgment and decree will support each other.
But thou have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold,
18 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.
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 ore, nor all the highest forces of strength.
Will thy cry not avail in distress, or all the forces of strength?
20 Desire then not eagerly the night, when nations pass away in their place.
Do not desire the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, turn not thyself to wrong-doing, so that thou wouldst choose this because of [thy] affliction.
Take heed. Do not turn to iniquity, for thou have fixed on this because of affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted by his power: who is an instructer like him?
Behold, God does loftily in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
23 Who hath given him a charge concerning his way? or who hath ever said, Thou hast acted unjustly?
Who has enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou have wrought unrighteousness?
24 Reflect, that thou shouldst magnify his work, which [other] men have beheld.
Remember that thou magnify his work, of which men have sung.
25 All men have looked at it [with astonishment]; the mortal gazeth at it from afar.
All men have looked on it. Man beholds it afar off.
26 Behold, God is great, and we comprehend him not, the number of his years can truly not be searched out.
Behold, God is great, and we do not know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
27 For he taketh away drops of water, which are purified into rain in his mist:
For he draws up the drops of water, which distil in rain from his vapor,
28 These drop down out of the skies; they distil upon the multitude of men.
which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly.
29 But [what man] can understand the outspreadings of the clouds? the tumult of his tabernacle?
Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 Behold, he spreadeth out over it his light, and covereth up the roots of the sea.
Behold, he spreads his light around him, and he covers the bottom of the sea.
31 For by means of them he judgeth nations, he giveth food in superfluity.
For by these he judges the peoples. He gives food in abundance.
32 [His] hands he covereth with light; and he commandeth it to strike the one who striveth against him.
He covers his hands with the lightning, and gives it a command that it strike the mark.
33 The noise of his storm telleth of it, yea, the cattle also, of the rising tempest.
The noise of it tells concerning him. The cattle also concerning the storm that comes up.
