Job 36

1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,

Elihu also proceeded, and said,

2 Allow me a little, and I will show thee. For I have yet somewhat 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 fetch 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.) He who is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

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

5 Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

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

6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.

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

7 He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but he sets them forever with kings upon the throne, 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 And if they be bound in fetters, and be 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 ear 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 hearken and serve him, they shall 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 do not hearken, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall 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 do not 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, and 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 Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress into a broad place, where there is no confinement, and that which is set on thy 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 thou have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold,

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

18 and there shall be wrath upon the impious because of the ungodliness of bribes which the unrighteous receive.

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

19 Will thy cry not avail in distress, or all the forces of strength?

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

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

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

21 Take heed. Do not turn to iniquity, for thou have fixed on this because of affliction.

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

22 Behold, God does loftily in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

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

23 Who has enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou have wrought unrighteousness?

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

24 Remember that thou magnify his work, of which men have sung.

Remember that you magnify his work, which men behold.

25 All men have looked on it. Man beholds it afar off.

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

26 Behold, God is great, and we do not 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 distil 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 drop upon man abundantly.

Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

29 Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, 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, and 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 peoples. 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 gives it a command that it strike the mark.

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

33 The noise of it tells concerning him. The cattle also concerning the storm that comes up.

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