Job 36
1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,
And Elihu went on to say,
2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet somewhat to say on God’s behalf.
Give me a little more time, and I will make it clear to you; for I have still something to say for God.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
I will get my knowledge from far, and I will give righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false: one that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
For truly my words are not false; one who has all knowledge is talking with you.
5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength of understanding.
Truly, God gives up the hard-hearted, and will not give life to the sinner.
6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth to the afflicted [their] right.
His eyes are ever on the upright, and he gives to the crushed 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.
Lifting them up to the seat of kings, and making them safe for ever.
8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be taken in the cords of affliction;
And if they have been prisoned in chains, and taken in cords of trouble,
9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
Then he makes clear to them what they have done, even their evil works in which they have taken pride.
10 He openeth also their ear to instruction, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
Their ear is open to his teaching, and he gives them orders so that their hearts may be turned from evil.
11 If they hearken and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
If they give ear to his voice, and do his word, then he gives them long life, and years full of pleasure.
12 But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
But if not, they come to their end, and give up their breath without knowledge.
13 But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: they cry not for help when he bindeth them.
Those who have no fear of God keep wrath stored up in their hearts; they give no cry for help when they are made prisoners.
14 They die in youth, and their life [perisheth] among the unclean.
They come to their end while they are still young, their life is short like that of those who are used for sex purposes in the worship of their gods.
15 He delivereth the afflicted by his affliction, and openeth their ear in oppression.
He makes the wrong done to the poor the way of their salvation, opening their ears by their trouble.
16 Yea, he would have led thee away out of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which is set on thy table should be full of fatness.
17 But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee].
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest thou be led away by [thy] sufficiency; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.
19 Will thy riches suffice, [that thou be] not in distress, or all the forces of [thy] strength?
20 Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
Take care not to be turned to sin, for you have taken evil for your part in place of sorrow.
22 Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: who is a teacher like unto him?
Truly God is lifted up in strength; who is a ruler like him?
23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?
Who ever gave orders to him, or said to him, You have done wrong?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, whereof men have sung.
See that you give praise to his work, about which men make songs.
25 All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off.
All people are looking on it; man sees it from far.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.
Truly, God is great, greater than all our knowledge; the number of his years may not be searched out.
27 For he draweth up the drops of water, which distil in rain from his vapour:
For he takes up the drops from the sea; he sends them through his mist as rain,
28 Which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly.
Flowing down from the sky, and dropping on the peoples.
29 Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?
And who has knowledge of how the clouds are stretched out, or of the thunders of his tent?
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; and he covereth the bottom of the sea.
See, he is stretching out his mist, covering the tops of the mountains with it.
31 For by these he judgeth the peoples; he giveth meat in abundance.
For by these he gives food to the peoples, and bread in full measure.
32 He covereth his hands with the lightning; and giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.
He takes the light in his hands, sending it against the mark.
33 The noise thereof telleth concerning him, the cattle also concerning [the storm] that cometh up.
The thunder makes clear his passion, and the storm gives news of his wrath.
