Job 36

1 Elihu [finished by] saying this:

Elihu also proceeded, and said,

2 “[Job, ] be patient with me a little longer, because I have something else to teach you. I have something else to say that God [wants you to know].

Suffer me a little, and I will show you that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.

3 I will tell you what I have learned from many sources, in order to show that God, my creator, is just/fair.

I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

4 I am not saying anything to you that is false; I, who am standing in front of you, am someone who understands things (very well/perfectly) [HYP].

For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with you.

5 “Hey, God is [very] powerful, and he does not despise anyone, and he understands everything.

Behold, God is mighty, and despises not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

6 He does not allow wicked people to remain alive, and he always acts justly toward those who are poor.

He preserves not the life of the wicked: but gives right to the poor.

7 He always watches over [MTY] those who are righteous; he allows them to sit on thrones [and rule] with kings, and they are honored forever.

He withdraws not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yes, he does establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

8 But if people [who commit crimes] are caught, they [are thrown into prison and] are caused to suffer by being fastened with chains.

And if they be bound in fetters, and be held in cords of affliction;

9 When that happens, God shows them what they have done; he shows them the sins that they have committed, and he shows them that they have been proud/arrogant.

Then he shows them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

10 He causes them to listen [MTY] to what he is warning them, and he commands them to turn away from [doing what is] evil.

He opens also their ear to discipline, and commands that they return from iniquity.

11 If they (listen to/heed) him and serve him, [after they get out of prison] they will prosper for all the years that they are alive and be peaceful/happy.

If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

12 But if they do not (listen/pay attention) to him, they will die violently, not knowing [why God is causing them to die].

But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

13 “Godless/Wicked people continue being angry, and they do not cry out for help, [even] when God is punishing them.

But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he binds them.

14 They die while they are still young, disgraced because of their very immoral behavior [EUP].

They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

15 But God teaches people by causing them to suffer; by afflicting them, he causes them to listen to [MTY] what he is telling them.

He delivers the poor in his affliction, and opens their ears in oppression.

16 “And Job, [I think that] God [wants to] bring you out of your troubles and allow you to live without distress; he wants your table to be full of very nice food.

Even so would he have removed you out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no narrow place; and that which should be set on your table should be full of fatness.

17 But now, you are being punished [MTY] as wicked people are punished; [God] [PRS] has been punishing you (justly/as you deserve).

But you have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on you.

18 So be careful that you are not deceived by [desiring to acquire] money or that you are not ruined by [accepting] large bribes.

Because there is wrath, beware lest he take you away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver you.

19 [If you are deceived by those things, ] it certainly will not [RHQ] help you to cry out when you are distressed; all of your strength will not help you.

Will he esteem your riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

20 Do not wish that it would be nighttime [in order that God will not see you and punish you], because night is the time when [even] people-groups are destroyed!

Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

21 Be careful not to [begin doing] evil things, because [God] has caused you to suffer to prevent you from doing evil.

Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this have you chosen rather than affliction.

22 “Hey, God is extremely powerful; there is certainly [RHQ] no teacher who teaches like he does.

Behold, God exalts by his power: who teaches like him?

23 No one has [RHQ] told him what he should do, and no one has [RHQ] said to him, ‘You have done what is wrong!’

Who has enjoined him his way? or who can say, You have worked iniquity?

24 People have [always] sung to praise him, so you also should never forget to praise him for what he has done.

Remember that you magnify his work, which men behold.

25 Everyone has seen [what he has done], but [sometimes] we can see it only from far away.

Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

26 “Hey, God is very great, and we are not able to know how great he is, and we do not know how old he is.

Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

27 He draws water up [from the earth and puts it in clouds] and causes it to become rain.

For he makes small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapor thereof:

28 The rain pours down from the sky/clouds; God causes abundant showers to fall on everyone.

Which the clouds do drop and distil on man abundantly.

29 No one can [RHQ] understand how the clouds move [across the sky] or how it thunders in the sky where God lives.

Also can any understand the spreading of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

30 He causes lightning to flash all around him, but he causes the bottom of the oceans to remain dark.

Behold, he spreads his light on it, and covers the bottom of the sea.

31 By providing plenty of rain for us, he enables us to have abundant food.

For by them judges he the people; he gives meat in abundance.

32 [It is as though] he holds the lightning in his hands, and [then] he commands it to strike where he wants it to.

With clouds he covers the light; and commands it not to shine by the cloud that comes between.

33 When we hear his thunder, we know that there will be a storm, and the cattle know it, too.”

The noise thereof shows concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapor.