Job 36
1 Elihu also continued, and said,
And Elihu adds and says:
2 "Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God's behalf.
“Honor me a little, and I show you, That yet for God [are] words.
3 I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
I lift up my knowledge from afar, And I ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
For my words [are] truly not false, The perfect in knowledge [is] with you.
5 "Look, God is mighty, and doesn't despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
Behold, God [is] mighty, and does not despise, Mighty [in] power [and] heart.
6 He doesn't preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.
He does not revive the wicked, And appoints the judgment of the poor;
7 He doesn't withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous, And [from] kings on the throne, And causes them to sit forever, and they are high,
8 If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
And if prisoners in chains They are captured with cords of affliction,
9 then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
Then He declares to them their work, And their transgressions, Because they have become mighty,
10 He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
And He uncovers their ear for instruction, And commands that they turn back from iniquity.
11 If they listen and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
If they hear and serve, They complete their days in good, And their years in pleasantness.
12 But if they do not listen, they shall perish by the sword; they shall die without knowledge.
And if they do not listen, They pass away by the dart, And expire without knowledge.
13 "But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They do not cry for help when he binds them.
And the profane in heart set the face, They do not cry when He has bound them.
14 They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.
Their soul dies in youth, And their life among the defiled.
15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
He draws out the afflicted in his affliction, And uncovers their ear in oppression.
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.
And He also moved you from a narrow place [To] a broad place—no constriction under it, And the sitting beyond of your table has been full of fatness.
17 "But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.
And you have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked, Judgment and justice are upheld because of fury,
18 Do not let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
Lest He move you with a stroke, And the abundance of an atonement not turn you aside.
19 Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
Does He value your riches? He has gold, and all the forces of power.
20 Do not desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
Do not desire the night, For the going up of peoples in their stead.
21 Take heed, do not regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
Take heed—do not turn to iniquity, For you have fixed on this Rather than [on] affliction.
22 Look, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
Behold, God sits on high by His power, Who [is] like Him—a teacher?
23 Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, 'You have committed unrighteousness?'
Who has appointed to Him His way? And who said, You have done iniquity?
24 "Remember that you magnify his work, whereof men have sung.
Remember that you magnify His work That men have beheld.
25 All men have looked thereon. Man sees it afar off.
All men have looked on it, Man looks attentively from afar.
26 Look, God is great, and we do not know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
Behold, God [is] high, And we do not know the number of His years, Indeed, there [is] no searching.
27 For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,
When He diminishes droppings of the waters, They refine rain according to its vapor,
28 Which the skies pour down and which drop on humankind abundantly.
Which clouds drop, They distill on man abundantly.
29 Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?
Indeed, do [any] understand The spreadings out of a cloud? The noises of His dwelling place?
30 Look, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
Behold, He has spread His light over it, And He has covered the roots of the sea,
31 For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
For He judges peoples by them, He gives food in abundance.
32 He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
By two palms He has covered the light, And lays a charge over it in meeting,
33 Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.
His shout shows it, The livestock also, the rising [storm].”
