Job 36
1 Elihu also continued, and said,
Eliu 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 shew thee: for I have yet somewhat to speak in God’s behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
I will repeat my knowledge from the beginning, and I will prove my Maker just.
4 For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
For indeed my words are without a lie, and perfect knowledge shall be proved to thee.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
God doth not cast away the mighty, whereas he himself also is mighty.
6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the afflicted.
But he saveth not the wicked, and he giveth judgment to 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 take away his eyes from the just, and he placeth kings on the throne for ever, and they are exalted.
8 If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
And if they shall be in chains, and be bound with the cords of poverty:
9 then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
He shall shew them their works, and their wicked deeds, because they have been violent.
10 He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
He also shall open their ear, to correct them: and shall speak, that they may return from iniquity.
11 If they listen and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
If they shall hear and observe, they shall accomplish their days in good, and their years in glory.
12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge.
But if they hear not, they shall pass by the sword, and shall be consumed in folly.
13 “But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They do not cry for help when he binds them.
Dissemblers and crafty men prove the wrath of God, neither shall they cry when they are bound.
14 They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.
Their soul shall die in a storm, and their life among the effeminate.
15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
He shall deliver the poor out of his distress, and shall open his ear in affliction.
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.
Therefore he shall set thee at large out of the narrow mouth, and which hath no foundation under it: and the rest of thy table shall be full of fatness.
17 “But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.
Thy cause hath been judged as that of the wicked, cause and judgment thou shalt recover.
18 Do not let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
Therefore let not anger overcome thee to oppress any man: neither let multitude of gifts turn thee aside.
19 Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
Lay down thy greatness without tribulation, and all the mighty of strength.
20 Do not desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
Prolong not the night that people may come up for them.
21 Take heed, do not regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
Beware thou turn not aside to iniquity: for this thou hast begun to follow after misery.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
Behold, God is high in his strength, and none is like him among the lawgivers.
23 Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness’?
Who can search out his ways? or who can say to him: Thou has wrought iniquity?
24 “Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung.
Remember that thou knowest not his work, concerning which men have sung.
25 All men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off.
All men see him, every one beholdeth afar off.
26 Behold, God is great, and we do not know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
Behold, God is great, exceeding our knowledge: the number of his years is inestimable.
27 For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,
He lifteth up the drops of rain, and poureth out showers like floods:
28 which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.
Which flow from the clouds that cover all above.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunderings of his pavilion?
If he will spread out clouds as his tent,
30 Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
And lighten with his light from above, he shall cover also the ends of the sea.
31 For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
For by these he judgeth people, and giveth food to many mortals.
32 He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
In his hands he hideth the light, and commandeth it to come again.
33 Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.
He sheweth his friend concerning it, that it is his possession, and that he may come up to it.
