Job 36
1 Elihu also continued, and said,
Elihu continued speaking.
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.
“Be patient with me just a little while longer and let me explain. I still have something to say on God's behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
I will share my extensive knowledge, and I will prove my Creator is in the right.
4 For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
I assure you that what I'm saying are not lies, for I am a man whose knowledge is of the highest order.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
God is mighty, but doesn't despise anyone; he is powerful in strength and understanding.
6 He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the afflicted.
He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives justice to the oppressed.
7 He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
He always pays attention those who do right, and places them on thrones with kings, honoring them eternally.
8 If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
If they are bound in chains, tied down by ropes of suffering,
9 then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
then he explains to them what they've done—their arrogant sins.
10 He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
He makes them pay attention and orders them to stop sinning.
11 If they listen and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
If they listen and do what God says they will live out their lives in happiness.
12 But if they don’t listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge.
But if they do not listen they will die a violent death, ignorant of God.
13 “But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.
Those who reject God hold on to their bitterness. Even when he disciplines them they do not cry out to him for help.
14 They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.
They die in their youth; their lives end among the male temple prostitutes.
15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
Through suffering God saves those who suffer; he gets their attention through their troubles.
16 Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a wide place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
God is trying to rescue you from the jaws of trouble to a place of freedom and safety, filling your table full of the very best food.
17 “But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.
But you are preoccupied with the fate of the wicked; judgment and justice fill your mind.
18 Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
But be careful that your anger doesn't seduce you into mockery; and don't let the size of the ‘bribe’ lead you into sin.
19 Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
Will your cry for help sustain you when troubles come?
20 Don’t desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
Do not long for the night when people are suddenly taken away.
21 Take heed, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
Watch out that you don't turn to evil! For it's because of this that you are being tested through suffering.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
Look how much power God has! What teacher is like him?
23 Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness’?
Who has instructed him what to do? Who can say to him ‘You have done wrong’?
24 “Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung.
Instead you should praise him for what he has done, as people have done in song.
25 All men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off.
Everyone has seen God's creation, though only from a distance.
26 Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
See how great God is—more than we can understand! No one can count his years.
27 For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,
He draws up the water and distils it into the dew and the rain.
28 which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.
The clouds pour down rain, falling plentifully on humankind.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunderings of his pavilion?
Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out, or how thunder roars from where he lives?
30 Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
See how he scatters lightning around him, and covers the depths of the sea in darkness.
31 For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
By these actions he rules the people, he provides abundant food.
32 He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
He holds lightning in his hands and commands where it should strike.
33 Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.
Thunder declares his presence—even cattle know when a storm is coming.
