איוב 36

1 ויסף אליהוא ויאמר

Elihu also continued, and said,

2 כתר-לי זעיר ואחוך כי עוד לאלוה מלים

“Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.

3 אשא דעי למרחוק ולפעלי אתן-צדק

I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

4 כי-אמנם לא-שקר מלי תמים דעות עמך

For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

5 הן-אל כביר ולא ימאס כביר כח לב

“Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

6 לא-יחיה רשע ומשפט עניים יתן

He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the afflicted.

7 לא-יגרע מצדיק עיניו ואת-מלכים לכסא וישיבם לנצח ויגבהו

He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.

8 ואם-אסורים בזקים ילכדון בחבלי-עני

If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,

9 ויגד להם פעלם ופשעיהם כי יתגברו

then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

10 ויגל אזנם למוסר ויאמר כי-ישובון מאון

He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.

11 אם-ישמעו ויעבדו יכלו ימיהם בטוב ושניהם בנעימים

If they listen and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

12 ואם-לא ישמעו בשלח יעברו ויגועו בבלי-דעת

But if they don’t listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge.

13 וחנפי-לב ישימו אף לא ישועו כי אסרם

“But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.

14 תמת בנער נפשם וחיתם בקדשים

They die in youth. Their life perishes amongst the unclean.

15 יחלץ עני בעניו ויגל בלחץ אזנם

He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.

16 ואף הסיתך מפי-צר-- רחב לא-מוצק תחתיה ונחת שלחנך מלא דשן

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.

17 ודין-רשע מלאת דין ומשפט יתמכו

“But you are full of the judgement of the wicked. Judgement and justice take hold of you.

18 כי-חמה פן-יסיתך בספק ורב-כפר אל-יטך

Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.

19 היערך שועך לא בצר וכל מאמצי-כח

Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?

20 אל-תשאף הלילה-- לעלות עמים תחתם

Don’t desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.

21 השמר אל-תפן אל-און כי-על-זה בחרת מעני

Take heed, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.

22 הן-אל ישגיב בכחו מי כמהו מורה

Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

23 מי-פקד עליו דרכו ומי-אמר פעלת עולה

Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness’?

24 זכר כי-תשגיא פעלו-- אשר שררו אנשים

“Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung.

25 כל-אדם חזו-בו אנוש יביט מרחוק

All men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off.

26 הן-אל שגיא ולא נדע מספר שניו ולא-חקר

Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.

27 כי יגרע נטפי-מים יזקו מטר לאדו

For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapour,

28 אשר-יזלו שחקים ירעפו עלי אדם רב

which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.

29 אף אם-יבין מפרשי-עב תשאות סכתו

Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunderings of his pavilion?

30 הן-פרש עליו אורו ושרשי הים כסה

Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.

31 כי-בם ידין עמים יתן-אכל למכביר

For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.

32 על-כפים כסה-אור ויצו עליה במפגיע

He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.

33 יגיד עליו רעו מקנה אף על-עולה

Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.