Job 36

1 Elihu also proceeded, and said:

Elihu also continued, and said,

2 Suffer me a little, and I will tell thee; for there are yet words on God's behalf.

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

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

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

4 For truly my words are not false; one that is upright in mind is with thee.

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

5 Behold, God is mighty, yet He despiseth not any; He is mighty in strength of understanding.

"Look, God is mighty, and doesn't despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked; but giveth to the poor their right.

He doesn't preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.

7 He withdraweth not His eyes from the righteous; but with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.

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

8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;

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

9 Then He declareth unto them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

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

10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

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

11 If they hearken and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

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

12 But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

But if they do not listen, they shall perish by the sword; they shall die without knowledge.

13 But they that are godless in heart lay up anger; they cry not for help when He bindeth them.

"But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They do not cry for help when he binds them.

14 Their soul perisheth in youth, and their life as that of the depraved.

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

15 He delivereth the afflicted by His affliction, and openeth their ear by tribulation.

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

16 Yea, He hath allured thee out of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which is set on thy table is full of fatness;

Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a broad place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.

17 And thou art full of the judgment of the wicked; judgment and justice take hold on them.

"But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.

18 For beware of wrath, lest thou be led away by thy sufficiency; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.

Do not let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.

19 Will thy riches avail, that are without stint, or all the forces of thy strength?

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

20 Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.

Do not desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed, regard not iniquity; for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

Take heed, do not regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.

22 Behold, God doeth loftily in His power; who is a teacher like Him?

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

23 Who hath enjoined Him His way? Or who hath said: 'Thou hast wrought unrighteousness'?

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

24 Remember that thou magnify His work, whereof men have sung.

"Remember that you magnify his work, whereof men have sung.

25 All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off.

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

26 Behold, God is great, beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.

Look, God is great, and we do not know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.

27 For He draweth away the drops of water, which distil rain from His vapour;

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

28 Which the skies pour down and drop upon the multitudes of men.

Which the skies pour down and which drop on humankind abundantly.

29 Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the crashings of His pavilion?

Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?

30 Behold, He spreadeth His light upon it; and He covereth the depths of the sea.

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

31 For by these He judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.

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

32 He covereth His hands with the lightning, and giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.

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

33 The noise thereof telleth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up.

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