Job 36
1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,
And Elius further continued, and said,
2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet somewhat to say on God’s behalf.
Wait for me yet a little while, that I may teach thee: for there is yet speech in me.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
Having fetched my knowledge from afar, and according to my works,
4 For truly my words are not false: one that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
I will speak just things truly, and thou shalt not unjustly receive unjust words.
5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength of understanding.
But know that the Lord will not cast off an innocent man: being mighty in strength of wisdom,
6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth to the afflicted [their] right.
he will not by any means save alive the ungodly: and he will grant the judgment of the poor.
7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings upon the throne he setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.
He will not turn away his eyes from the righteous, but [they shall be] with kings on the throne: and he will establish them in triumph, and they shall be exalted.
8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be taken in the cords of affliction;
But they that are bound in fetters shall be holden in cords of poverty.
9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
And he shall recount to them their works, and their transgressions, for such will act with violence.
10 He openeth also their ear to instruction, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
But he will hearken to the righteous: and he has said that they shall turn from unrighteousness.
11 If they hearken and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
If they should hear and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in honour.
12 But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
But he preserves not the ungodly; because they are not willing to know the Lord, and because when reproved they were disobedient.
13 But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: they cry not for help when he bindeth them.
And the hypocrites in heart will array wrath [against themselves]; they will not cry, because he has bound them.
14 They die in youth, and their life [perisheth] among the unclean.
Therefore let their soul die in youth, and their life be wounded by messengers [of death].
15 He delivereth the afflicted by his affliction, and openeth their ear in oppression.
Because they afflicted the weak and helpless: and he will vindicate the judgment of the meek.
16 Yea, he would have led thee away out of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which is set on thy table should be full of fatness.
And he has also enticed thee out of the mouth of the enemy:
17 But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee].
[there is] a deep gulf [and] a rushing stream beneath it, and thy table came down full of fatness. Judgment shall not fail from the righteous;
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest thou be led away by [thy] sufficiency; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.
but there shall be wrath upon the ungodly, by reason of the ungodliness of the bribes which they received for iniquities.
19 Will thy riches suffice, [that thou be] not in distress, or all the forces of [thy] strength?
Let not [thy] mind willingly turn thee aside from the petition of the feeble that are in distress.
20 Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.
And draw not forth all the mighty [men] by night, so that the people should go up instead of them.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
But take heed lest thou do that which is wrong: for of this thou has made choice because of poverty.
22 Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: who is a teacher like unto him?
Behold, the Mighty One shall prevail by his strength: for who is powerful as he is?
23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?
And who is he that examines his works? or who can say, he has wrought injustice?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, whereof men have sung.
Remember that his works are great [beyond] those which men have attempted.
25 All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off.
Every man has seen in himself, how many mortals are wounded.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.
Behold, the Mighty One is great, and we shall not know [him]: the number of his years is even infinite.
27 For he draweth up the drops of water, which distil in rain from his vapour:
And the drops of rain are numbered by him, and shall be poured out in rain to form a cloud.
28 Which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly.
The ancient [heavens] shall flow, and the clouds overshadow innumerable mortals: he has fixed a time to cattle, and they know the order of rest. [Yet] by all these things thy understanding is not astonished, neither is thy mind disturbed in [thy] body.
29 Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?
And though one should understand the outspreadings of the clouds, [or] the measure of his tabernacle;
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; and he covereth the bottom of the sea.
behold he will stretch his bow against him, and he covers the bottom of the sea.
31 For by these he judgeth the peoples; he giveth meat in abundance.
For by them he will judge the nations: he will give food to him that has strength.
32 He covereth his hands with the lightning; and giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.
He has hidden the light in [his] hands, and given charge concerning it to the interposing [cloud].
33 The noise thereof telleth concerning him, the cattle also concerning [the storm] that cometh up.
The Lord will declare concerning this [to] his friend: [but there is] a portion also for unrighteousness.
