Job 36
1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,
Continuing in a similar manner, Eliu had this to say:
2 Bear with me a little, and I will show thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.
Bear with me for a little while and I will show you; for I have still more to say in favor of God.
3 I will bring my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
I will review my knowledge from the beginning, and I will prove my Maker to be just.
4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
For truly my words are without any falsehood and perfect knowledge will be proven to you.
5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
God does not abandon the powerful, for he himself is also powerful.
6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
But he does not save the impious, though he grants judgment to the poor.
7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
He will not take his eyes away from the just, and he continually establishes kings on their throne, and they are exalted.
8 And if they are bound in fetters, and are held in cords of affliction;
And, if they are in captivity, or are bound with the chains of poverty,
9 Then he showeth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
he will reveal to them their works, as well as their sinfulness, in that they were violent.
10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
Likewise, he will open their ears to his correction, and he will speak to them, so that they may return from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
If they listen and obey, they will fill their days with goodness and complete their years in glory.
12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
But if they will not listen, they will pass away by the sword and will be consumed by foolishness.
13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
The false and the crafty provoke the wrath of God, yet they do not cry out to him when they are chained.
14 They die in youth, and their life is among the sodomites.
Their soul will die in a storm, and their life, among the unmanly.
15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
He will rescue the poor from his anguish, and he will open his ear during tribulation.
16 Even so would he have removed thee out of distress into a broad place, where there is no restraint; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
Therefore, he will save you from the narrow mouth very widely, even though it has no foundation under it. Moreover, your respite at table will be full of fatness.
17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
Your case has been judged like that of the impious; you will withdraw your plea and your judgment.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
Therefore, do not let anger overwhelm you so that you oppress another; neither should you allow a multitude of gifts to influence you.
19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
Lay down your greatness without distress, and put aside all of your power with courage.
20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
Do not prolong the night, even if people rise on their behalf.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity; for, after your misery, you have begun to follow this.
22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
Behold, God is exalted in his strength, and there is no one like him among the law-givers.
23 Who hath directed him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
Who is able to investigate his ways? And who can say, “You have done iniquity,” to him?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
Remember that you are ignorant of his work, yet men have sung its praises.
25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.
All men consider him; and each one ponders from a distance.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
Behold, God is great, defeating our knowledge; the number of his years is inestimable.
27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour of it:
He carries away the drops of rain, and he sends forth showers like a raging whirlpool;
28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
they flow from the clouds that are woven above everything.
29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
If he wills it, he extends the clouds as his tent
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
and shines with his light from above; likewise, he covers the oceans within his tent.
31 For by them he judgeth the people; he giveth food in abundance.
For he judges the people by these things, and he gives food to a multitude of mortals.
32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh between.
Within his hands, he hides the light, and he commands it to come forth again.
33 The noise of it showeth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
He announces it to his friend, for it is his possession and he is able to reach out to it.
