Job 36
1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,
Elihu continued on and said,
2 Suffer me a little, and I will show thee that [I have] yet to speak on God's behalf.
“Permit me to speak a little longer, and I will show you some things because I have a little more to say in defense of God.
3 I will bring my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
I will obtain my knowledge from far off; I will acknowledge that righteousness belongs to my Maker.
4 For truly my words [shall] not [be] false: he that is perfect in knowledge [is] with thee.
For indeed, my words will not be false; someone who is mature in knowledge is with you.
5 Behold, God [is] mighty, and despiseth not [any]: [he is] mighty in strength [and] wisdom.
See, God is mighty, and despises no one; he is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
He does not preserve the life of wicked people but instead does what is right for those who suffer.
7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings [are they] on the throne; yes, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
He does not withdraw his eyes from righteous people but instead sets them on thrones like kings forever, and they are lifted up.
8 And if [they are] bound in fetters, [and] are held in cords of affliction;
If they are bound in chains and trapped in cords of suffering,
9 Then he showeth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
then he reveals to them what they have done, and their transgressions and their pride.
10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
He also opens their ears to his instruction, and commands them to turn back from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
If they listen to him and worship him, they will spend their days in prosperity, their years in contentment.
12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
However, if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die because they have no knowledge.
13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
Those who are godless in heart store up their anger; they do not cry out for help even when God ties them up.
14 They die in youth, and their life [is] among the unclean.
They die in their youth; their lives end among the cultic prostitutes.
15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
God rescues afflicted people by means of their afflictions; he opens their ears by means of their oppression.
16 Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait [into] a broad place, where [there is] no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table [would be] full of fatness.
Indeed, he would like to draw you out of distress into a broad place where there is no hardship and where your table would be set with food full of fatness.
17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee].
But you are full of judgment on wicked people; judgment and justice have laid hold of you.
18 Because [there is] wrath, [beware] lest he take thee away with [his] stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
Do not let your anger entice you to mockery, or the greatness of a ransom to turn you aside.
19 Will he esteem thy riches? [no], not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
Can your wealth benefit you, so that you will not be in distress, or can all the force of your strength help you?
20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
Do not desire the night, to commit sin against others, when peoples are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
Be careful that you do not turn to sin because you are being tested by suffering so that you will stay away from sinning.
22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
See, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?
23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
Who has ever instructed him about his way? Who can ever say to him, 'You have committed unrighteousness?'
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
Remember to praise his deeds, of which people have sung.
25 Every man may see it; man may behold [it] afar off.
All people have looked on those deeds, but they see those deeds only from far away.
26 Behold, God [is] great, and we know [him] not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
See, God is great, but we do not understand him well; the number of his years is incalculable.
27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapor of it.
For he draws up the drops of water that he distills as rain from his vapor,
28 Which the clouds do drop [and] distill upon man abundantly.
which the clouds pour down and drop in abundance on mankind.
29 Also can [any] understand the spreadings of the clouds, [or] the noise of his tabernacle?
Indeed, can anyone understand the extensive spread of the clouds and the thunder from his hut?
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
See, he spreads his lightning around him and covers the roots of the sea.
31 For by them he judgeth the people; he giveth food in abundance.
In this way he judges the peoples and gives food in abundance.
32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it [not to shine] by [the] intervening [cloud].
He fills his hands with the lightning until he commands it to strike its mark.
33 The noise of it showeth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapor.
Its thunder warns of the storm, the cattle can also hear it is coming.
