< Job 36 >

1 Elihu also continued, and said,
Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.
Suffer me a little, and I will show you that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
I will fetch my knowledge from far, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
Behold, God is mighty, and despises not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
6 He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the afflicted.
He perserves not the life of the wicked: but gives right to the poor.
7 He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
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.
8 If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
And if they be bound in fetters, and be held in cords of affliction;
9 then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
Then he shows them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
10 He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
He opens also their ear to discipline, and commands that they return from iniquity.
11 If they listen and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they don’t listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge.
But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13 “But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.
But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he binds them.
14 They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.
They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
He delivers the poor in his affliction, and opens their ears in oppression.
16 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.
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.
17 “But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.
But you have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on you.
18 Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
Because there is wrath, beware lest he take you away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver you.
19 Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
Will he esteem your riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
20 Don’t desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this have you chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
Behold, God exalts by his power: who teaches like him?
23 Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness’?
Who has commanded with authority him his way? or who can say, You have wrought iniquity?
24 “Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung.
Remember that you magnify his work, which men behold.
25 All men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off.
Every man may see it; man may behold it far off.
26 Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27 For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,
For he makes small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
28 which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.
Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunderings of his pavilion?
Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
30 Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
Behold, he spreads his light upon it, and covers the bottom of the sea.
31 For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
For by them judges he the people; he gives food in abundance.
32 He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
With clouds he covers the light; and commands it not to shine by the cloud that comes between.
33 Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.
The noise thereof shows concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

< Job 36 >