Job 36
1 Then continued Elihu, and said,
Eliu 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.
Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet somewhat to speak in 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 repeat my knowledge from the beginning, and I will prove my Maker just.
4 For truly no falsehood is [in] my words: one that is upright in [his] opinions [dealeth now] with thee.
For indeed my words are without a lie, and perfect knowledge shall be proved to thee.
5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength of intellect.
God doth not cast away the mighty, whereas he himself also is mighty.
6 He permitteth not the wicked to live; but he procureth justice for the afflicted.
But he saveth not the wicked, and he giveth judgment to the poor.
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 will not take away his eyes from the just, and he placeth kings on the throne for ever, 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 shall be in chains, and be bound with the cords of poverty:
9 Then doth he tell them of their work, and of their transgressions, when they had become strong.
He shall shew them their works, and their wicked deeds, because they have been violent.
10 And he openeth thus their ear to correction, and saith that they should return from wrong-doing.
He also shall open their ear, to correct them: and shall speak, that they may return from iniquity.
11 If they hearken and serve [him], they will spend their days in happiness, and their years in pleasures.
If they shall hear and observe, they shall accomplish their days in good, and their years in glory.
12 But if they hearken not, they will pass away through the sword, and they will perish in want of knowledge.
But if they hear not, they shall pass by the sword, and shall be consumed in folly.
13 But the hypocrites in heart persevere in wrath; they will not offer entreaty when he bindeth them:
Dissemblers and crafty men prove the wrath of God, neither shall they cry when they are bound.
14 Their soul will die in youth, and their life, among the incestuous.
Their soul shall die in a storm, and their life among the effeminate.
15 He delivereth the afflicted through his affliction, and openeth through oppression his ear.
He shall deliver the poor out of his distress, and shall open his ear in affliction.
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.
Therefore he shall set thee at large out of the narrow mouth, and which hath no foundation under it: and the rest of thy table shall be full of fatness.
17 But if thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: [divine] judgment and decree will support each other.
Thy cause hath been judged as that of the wicked, cause and judgment thou shalt recover.
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.
Therefore let not anger overcome thee to oppress any man: neither let multitude of gifts turn thee aside.
19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold ore, nor all the highest forces of strength.
Lay down thy greatness without tribulation, and all the mighty of strength.
20 Desire then not eagerly the night, when nations pass away in their place.
Prolong not the night that people may come up for them.
21 Take heed, turn not thyself to wrong-doing, so that thou wouldst choose this because of [thy] affliction.
Beware thou turn not aside to iniquity: for this thou hast begun to follow after misery.
22 Behold, God is exalted by his power: who is an instructer like him?
Behold, God is high in his strength, and none is like him among the lawgivers.
23 Who hath given him a charge concerning his way? or who hath ever said, Thou hast acted unjustly?
Who can search out his ways? or who can say to him: Thou has wrought iniquity?
24 Reflect, that thou shouldst magnify his work, which [other] men have beheld.
Remember that thou knowest not his work, concerning which men have sung.
25 All men have looked at it [with astonishment]; the mortal gazeth at it from afar.
All men see him, every one beholdeth 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, exceeding our knowledge: the number of his years is inestimable.
27 For he taketh away drops of water, which are purified into rain in his mist:
He lifteth up the drops of rain, and poureth out showers like floods:
28 These drop down out of the skies; they distil upon the multitude of men.
Which flow from the clouds that cover all above.
29 But [what man] can understand the outspreadings of the clouds? the tumult of his tabernacle?
If he will spread out clouds as his tent,
30 Behold, he spreadeth out over it his light, and covereth up the roots of the sea.
And lighten with his light from above, he shall cover also the ends of the sea.
31 For by means of them he judgeth nations, he giveth food in superfluity.
For by these he judgeth people, and giveth food to many mortals.
32 [His] hands he covereth with light; and he commandeth it to strike the one who striveth against him.
In his hands he hideth the light, and commandeth it to come again.
33 The noise of his storm telleth of it, yea, the cattle also, of the rising tempest.
He sheweth his friend concerning it, that it is his possession, and that he may come up to it.
