איוב 36
| ויסף אליהוא ויאמר | 1 |
Elihu continued speaking.
| כתר-לי זעיר ואחוך כי עוד לאלוה מלים | 2 |
“Be patient with me just a little while longer and let me explain. I still have something to say on God's behalf.
| אשא דעי למרחוק ולפעלי אתן-צדק | 3 |
I will share my extensive knowledge, and I will prove my Creator is in the right.
| כי-אמנם לא-שקר מלי תמים דעות עמך | 4 |
I assure you that what I'm saying are not lies, for I am a man whose knowledge is of the highest order.
| הן-אל כביר ולא ימאס כביר כח לב | 5 |
God is mighty, but doesn't despise anyone; he is powerful in strength and understanding.
| לא-יחיה רשע ומשפט עניים יתן | 6 |
He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives justice to the oppressed.
| לא-יגרע מצדיק עיניו ואת-מלכים לכסא וישיבם לנצח ויגבהו | 7 |
He always pays attention those who do right, and places them on thrones with kings, honoring them eternally.
| ואם-אסורים בזקים ילכדון בחבלי-עני | 8 |
If they are bound in chains, tied down by ropes of suffering,
| ויגד להם פעלם ופשעיהם כי יתגברו | 9 |
then he explains to them what they've done—their arrogant sins.
| ויגל אזנם למוסר ויאמר כי-ישובון מאון | 10 |
He makes them pay attention and orders them to stop sinning.
| אם-ישמעו ויעבדו יכלו ימיהם בטוב ושניהם בנעימים | 11 |
If they listen and do what God says they will live out their lives in happiness.
| ואם-לא ישמעו בשלח יעברו ויגועו בבלי-דעת | 12 |
But if they do not listen they will die a violent death, ignorant of God.
| וחנפי-לב ישימו אף לא ישועו כי אסרם | 13 |
Those who reject God hold on to their bitterness. Even when he disciplines them they do not cry out to him for help.
| תמת בנער נפשם וחיתם בקדשים | 14 |
They die in their youth; their lives end among the male temple prostitutes.
| יחלץ עני בעניו ויגל בלחץ אזנם | 15 |
Through suffering God saves those who suffer; he gets their attention through their troubles.
| ואף הסיתך מפי-צר-- רחב לא-מוצק תחתיה ונחת שלחנך מלא דשן | 16 |
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.
| ודין-רשע מלאת דין ומשפט יתמכו | 17 |
But you are preoccupied with the fate of the wicked; judgment and justice fill your mind.
| כי-חמה פן-יסיתך בספק ורב-כפר אל-יטך | 18 |
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.
| היערך שועך לא בצר וכל מאמצי-כח | 19 |
Will your cry for help sustain you when troubles come?
| אל-תשאף הלילה-- לעלות עמים תחתם | 20 |
Do not long for the night when people are suddenly taken away.
| השמר אל-תפן אל-און כי-על-זה בחרת מעני | 21 |
Watch out that you don't turn to evil! For it's because of this that you are being tested through suffering.
| הן-אל ישגיב בכחו מי כמהו מורה | 22 |
Look how much power God has! What teacher is like him?
| מי-פקד עליו דרכו ומי-אמר פעלת עולה | 23 |
Who has instructed him what to do? Who can say to him ‘You have done wrong’?
| זכר כי-תשגיא פעלו-- אשר שררו אנשים | 24 |
Instead you should praise him for what he has done, as people have done in song.
| כל-אדם חזו-בו אנוש יביט מרחוק | 25 |
Everyone has seen God's creation, though only from a distance.
| הן-אל שגיא ולא נדע מספר שניו ולא-חקר | 26 |
See how great God is—more than we can understand! No one can count his years.
| כי יגרע נטפי-מים יזקו מטר לאדו | 27 |
He draws up the water and distils it into the dew and the rain.
| אשר-יזלו שחקים ירעפו עלי אדם רב | 28 |
The clouds pour down rain, falling plentifully on humankind.
| אף אם-יבין מפרשי-עב תשאות סכתו | 29 |
Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out, or how thunder roars from where he lives?
| הן-פרש עליו אורו ושרשי הים כסה | 30 |
See how he scatters lightning around him, and covers the depths of the sea in darkness.
| כי-בם ידין עמים יתן-אכל למכביר | 31 |
By these actions he rules the people, he provides abundant food.
| על-כפים כסה-אור ויצו עליה במפגיע | 32 |
He holds lightning in his hands and commands where it should strike.
| יגיד עליו רעו מקנה אף על-עולה | 33 |
Thunder declares his presence—even cattle know when a storm is coming.
