Job 36
1 Elihu also continued, and said,
And Elihu went on to say,
2 "Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God's behalf.
Give me a little more time, and I will make it clear to you; for I have still something to say for God.
3 I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
I will get my knowledge from far, and I will give righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
For truly my words are not false; one who has all knowledge is talking with you.
5 "Look, God is mighty, and doesn't despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
Truly, God gives up the hard-hearted, and will not give life to the sinner.
6 He doesn't preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.
His eyes are ever on the upright, and he gives to the crushed their right;
7 He doesn't withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
Lifting them up to the seat of kings, and making them safe for ever.
8 If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
And if they have been prisoned in chains, and taken in cords of trouble,
9 then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
Then he makes clear to them what they have done, even their evil works in which they have taken pride.
10 He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
Their ear is open to his teaching, and he gives them orders so that their hearts may be turned from evil.
11 If they listen and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
If they give ear to his voice, and do his word, then he gives them long life, and years full of pleasure.
12 But if they do not listen, they shall perish by the sword; they shall die without knowledge.
But if not, they come to their end, and give up their breath without knowledge.
13 "But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They do not cry for help when he binds them.
Those who have no fear of God keep wrath stored up in their hearts; they give no cry for help when they are made prisoners.
14 They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.
They come to their end while they are still young, their life is short like that of those who are used for sex purposes in the worship of their gods.
15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
He makes the wrong done to the poor the way of their salvation, opening their ears by their trouble.
16 Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a broad place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
17 "But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Do not let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
19 Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
20 Do not desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, do not regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
Take care not to be turned to sin, for you have taken evil for your part in place of sorrow.
22 Look, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
Truly God is lifted up in strength; who is a ruler like him?
23 Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, 'You have committed unrighteousness?'
Who ever gave orders to him, or said to him, You have done wrong?
24 "Remember that you magnify his work, whereof men have sung.
See that you give praise to his work, about which men make songs.
25 All men have looked thereon. Man sees it afar off.
All people are looking on it; man sees it from far.
26 Look, God is great, and we do not know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
Truly, God is great, greater than all our knowledge; the number of his years may not be searched out.
27 For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,
For he takes up the drops from the sea; he sends them through his mist as rain,
28 Which the skies pour down and which drop on humankind abundantly.
Flowing down from the sky, and dropping on the peoples.
29 Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?
And who has knowledge of how the clouds are stretched out, or of the thunders of his tent?
30 Look, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
See, he is stretching out his mist, covering the tops of the mountains with it.
31 For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
For by these he gives food to the peoples, and bread in full measure.
32 He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
He takes the light in his hands, sending it against the mark.
33 Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.
The thunder makes clear his passion, and the storm gives news of his wrath.
