Job 36

1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,

And Elius further continued, and said,

2 Suffer me a little, and I will show you that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.

Wait for me yet a little while, that I may teach thee: for there is yet speech in me.

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

Having fetched my knowledge from afar, and according to my works,

4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with you.

I will speak just things truly, and thou shalt not unjustly receive unjust words.

5 Behold, God is mighty, and despises not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

But know that the Lord will not cast off an innocent man: being mighty in strength of wisdom,

6 He perserves not the life of the wicked: but gives right to the poor.

he will not by any means save alive the ungodly: and he will grant the judgment of the poor.

7 He withdraws not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he does establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

He will not turn away his eyes from the righteous, but [they shall be] with kings on the throne: and he will establish them in triumph, and they shall be exalted.

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

But they that are bound in fetters shall be holden in cords of poverty.

9 Then he shows them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

And he shall recount to them their works, and their transgressions, for such will act with violence.

10 He opens also their ear to discipline, and commands that they return from iniquity.

But he will hearken to the righteous: and he has said that they shall turn from unrighteousness.

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

If they should hear and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in honour.

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

But he preserves not the ungodly; because they are not willing to know the Lord, and because when reproved they were disobedient.

13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he binds them.

And the hypocrites in heart will array wrath [against themselves]; they will not cry, because he has bound them.

14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

Therefore let their soul die in youth, and their life be wounded by messengers [of death].

15 He delivers the poor in his affliction, and opens their ears in oppression.

Because they afflicted the weak and helpless: and he will vindicate the judgment of the meek.

16 Even so would he have removed you out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no strictness; and that which should be set on your table should be full of fatness.

And he has also enticed thee out of the mouth of the enemy:

17 But you have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on you.

[there is] a deep gulf [and] a rushing stream beneath it, and thy table came down full of fatness. Judgment shall not fail from the righteous;

18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take you away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver you.

but there shall be wrath upon the ungodly, by reason of the ungodliness of the bribes which they received for iniquities.

19 Will he esteem your riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

Let not [thy] mind willingly turn thee aside from the petition of the feeble that are in distress.

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

And draw not forth all the mighty [men] by night, so that the people should go up instead of them.

21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this have you chosen rather than affliction.

But take heed lest thou do that which is wrong: for of this thou has made choice because of poverty.

22 Behold, God exalts by his power: who teaches like him?

Behold, the Mighty One shall prevail by his strength: for who is powerful as he is?

23 Who has commanded with authority him his way? or who can say, You have wrought iniquity?

And who is he that examines his works? or who can say, he has wrought injustice?

24 Remember that you magnify his work, which men behold.

Remember that his works are great [beyond] those which men have attempted.

25 Every man may see it; man may behold it far off.

Every man has seen in himself, how many mortals are wounded.

26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

Behold, the Mighty One is great, and we shall not know [him]: the number of his years is even infinite.

27 For he makes small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

And the drops of rain are numbered by him, and shall be poured out in rain to form a cloud.

28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

The ancient [heavens] shall flow, and the clouds overshadow innumerable mortals: he has fixed a time to cattle, and they know the order of rest. [Yet] by all these things thy understanding is not astonished, neither is thy mind disturbed in [thy] body.

29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

And though one should understand the outspreadings of the clouds, [or] the measure of his tabernacle;

30 Behold, he spreads his light upon it, and covers the bottom of the sea.

behold he will stretch his bow against him, and he covers the bottom of the sea.

31 For by them judges he the people; he gives food in abundance.

For by them he will judge the nations: he will give food to him that has strength.

32 With clouds he covers the light; and commands it not to shine by the cloud that comes between.

He has hidden the light in [his] hands, and given charge concerning it to the interposing [cloud].

33 The noise thereof shows concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

The Lord will declare concerning this [to] his friend: [but there is] a portion also for unrighteousness.