Job 36
1 Elihu also continued, and said,
And Elius further continued, and said,
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say 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 get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
Having fetched my knowledge from afar, and according to my works,
4 For truly my words are not false. One who 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 does not despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
But know that the Lord will not cast off an innocent man: being mighty in strength of wisdom,
6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the afflicted.
he will not by any means save alive the ungodly: and he will grant the judgment of the poor.
7 He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, 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 If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
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 behaved themselves proudly.
And he shall recount to them their works, and their transgressions, for such will act with violence.
10 He also opens their ears to instruction, 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 listen and serve him, they will 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 do not listen, they will perish by the sword; they will 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 those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They do not cry for help 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. Their life perishes among the unclean.
Therefore let their soul die in youth, and their life be wounded by messengers [of death].
15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
Because they afflicted the weak and helpless: and he will vindicate the judgment of the meek.
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.
And he has also enticed thee out of the mouth of the enemy:
17 “But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of 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 Do not let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
but there shall be wrath upon the ungodly, by reason of the ungodliness of the bribes which they received for iniquities.
19 Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
Let not [thy] mind willingly turn thee aside from the petition of the feeble that are in distress.
20 Do not desire 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, do not regard iniquity; for you have chosen this 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 is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
Behold, the Mighty One shall prevail by his strength: for who is powerful as he is?
23 Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness’?
And who is he that examines his works? or who can say, he has wrought injustice?
24 “Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung.
Remember that his works are great [beyond] those which men have attempted.
25 All men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off.
Every man has seen in himself, how many mortals are wounded.
26 Behold, God is great, and we do not know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
Behold, the Mighty One is great, and we shall not know [him]: the number of his years is even infinite.
27 For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,
And the drops of rain are numbered by him, and shall be poured out in rain to form a cloud.
28 which the skies pour down and which drop on 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 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunderings of his pavilion?
And though one should understand the outspreadings of the clouds, [or] the measure of his tabernacle;
30 Behold, he spreads his light around him. He 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 these he judges 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 He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
He has hidden the light in [his] hands, and given charge concerning it to the interposing [cloud].
33 Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.
The Lord will declare concerning this [to] his friend: [but there is] a portion also for unrighteousness.
