Job 36

1 Elihu [finished by] saying this:

And Elius further continued, 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].

Wait for me yet a little while, that I may teach you: for there is yet speech in me.

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

Having fetched my knowledge from afar, and according to my works,

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].

I will speak just things truly, and you shall not unjustly receive unjust words.

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

But know that the Lord will not cast off an innocent man: being mighty in strength of wisdom,

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

he will not by any means save alive the ungodly: and he will grant the judgment of 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 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 But if people [who commit crimes] are caught, they [are thrown into prison and] are caused to suffer by being fastened with chains.

But they that are bound in fetters shall be holden in cords of poverty.

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.

And he shall recount to them their works, and their transgressions, for such will act with violence.

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.

But he will listen to the righteous: and he has said that they shall turn from unrighteousness.

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 should hear and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in honor.

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 he preserves not the ungodly; because they are not willing to know the Lord, and because when reproved they were disobedient.

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

And the hypocrites in heart will array wrath [against themselves]; they will not cry, because he has bound them.

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

Therefore let their soul die in youth, and their life be wounded by messengers [of death].

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.

Because they afflicted the weak and helpless: and he will vindicate the judgment of the meek.

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.

And he has also enticed you out of the mouth of the enemy:

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

[there is] a deep gulf [and] a rushing stream beneath it, and your table came down full of fatness. Judgment shall not fail from the righteous;

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

but there shall be wrath upon the ungodly, by reason of the ungodliness of the bribes which they received for iniquities.

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.

Let not [your] mind willingly turn you aside from the petition of the feeble that are in distress.

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!

And draw not forth all the mighty [men] by night, so that the people should go up instead of them.

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

But take heed lest you do that which is wrong: for of this you has made choice because of poverty.

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

Behold, the Mighty One shall prevail by his strength: for who is powerful as he is?

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!’

And who is he that examines his works? or who can say, he has wrought injustice?

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

Remember that his works are great [beyond] those which men have attempted.

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

Every man has seen in himself, how many mortals are wounded.

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, the Mighty One is great, and we shall not know [him]: the number of his years is even infinite.

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

And the drops of rain are numbered by him, and shall be poured out in rain to form a cloud.

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

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 your understanding is not astonished, neither is your mind disturbed in [your] body.

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

And though one should understand the outspreadings of the clouds, [or] the measure 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 will stretch his bow against him, and he covers the bottom of the sea.

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

For by them he will judge the nations: he will give food to him that has strength.

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

He has hidden the light in [his] hands, and given charge concerning it to the interposing [cloud].

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

The Lord will declare concerning this [to] his friend: [but there is] a portion also for unrighteousness.