Job 36
1 Continuing in a similar manner, Eliu had this to say:
Elihu continued on and said,
2 Bear with me for a little while and I will show you; for I have still more to say in favor of God.
“Permit me to speak a little longer, and I will show you some things because I have a little more to say in defense of God.
3 I will review my knowledge from the beginning, and I will prove my Maker to be just.
I will obtain my knowledge from far off; I will acknowledge that righteousness belongs to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are without any falsehood and perfect knowledge will be proven to you.
For indeed, my words will not be false; someone who is mature in knowledge is with you.
5 God does not abandon the powerful, for he himself is also powerful.
See, God is mighty, and despises no one; he is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 But he does not save the impious, though he grants judgment to the poor.
He does not preserve the life of wicked people but instead does what is right for those who suffer.
7 He will not take his eyes away from the just, and he continually establishes kings on their throne, and they are exalted.
He does not withdraw his eyes from righteous people but instead sets them on thrones like kings forever, and they are lifted up.
8 And, if they are in captivity, or are bound with the chains of poverty,
If they are bound in chains and trapped in cords of suffering,
9 he will reveal to them their works, as well as their sinfulness, in that they were violent.
then he reveals to them what they have done, and their transgressions and their pride.
10 Likewise, he will open their ears to his correction, and he will speak to them, so that they may return from iniquity.
He also opens their ears to his instruction, and commands them to turn back from iniquity.
11 If they listen and obey, they will fill their days with goodness and complete their years in glory.
If they listen to him and worship him, they will spend their days in prosperity, their years in contentment.
12 But if they will not listen, they will pass away by the sword and will be consumed by foolishness.
However, if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die because they have no knowledge.
13 The false and the crafty provoke the wrath of God, yet they do not cry out to him when they are chained.
Those who are godless in heart store up their anger; they do not cry out for help even when God ties them up.
14 Their soul will die in a storm, and their life, among the unmanly.
They die in their youth; their lives end among the cultic prostitutes.
15 He will rescue the poor from his anguish, and he will open his ear during tribulation.
God rescues afflicted people by means of their afflictions; he opens their ears by means of their oppression.
16 Therefore, he will save you from the narrow mouth very widely, even though it has no foundation under it. Moreover, your respite at table will be full of fatness.
Indeed, he would like to draw you out of distress into a broad place where there is no hardship and where your table would be set with food full of fatness.
17 Your case has been judged like that of the impious; you will withdraw your plea and your judgment.
But you are full of judgment on wicked people; judgment and justice have laid hold of you.
18 Therefore, do not let anger overwhelm you so that you oppress another; neither should you allow a multitude of gifts to influence you.
Do not let your anger entice you to mockery, or the greatness of a ransom to turn you aside.
19 Lay down your greatness without distress, and put aside all of your power with courage.
Can your wealth benefit you, so that you will not be in distress, or can all the force of your strength help you?
20 Do not prolong the night, even if people rise on their behalf.
Do not desire the night, to commit sin against others, when peoples are cut off in their place.
21 Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity; for, after your misery, you have begun to follow this.
Be careful that you do not turn to sin because you are being tested by suffering so that you will stay away from sinning.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his strength, and there is no one like him among the law-givers.
See, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?
23 Who is able to investigate his ways? And who can say, “You have done iniquity,” to him?
Who has ever instructed him about his way? Who can ever say to him, 'You have committed unrighteousness?'
24 Remember that you are ignorant of his work, yet men have sung its praises.
Remember to praise his deeds, of which people have sung.
25 All men consider him; and each one ponders from a distance.
All people have looked on those deeds, but they see those deeds only from far away.
26 Behold, God is great, defeating our knowledge; the number of his years is inestimable.
See, God is great, but we do not understand him well; the number of his years is incalculable.
27 He carries away the drops of rain, and he sends forth showers like a raging whirlpool;
For he draws up the drops of water that he distills as rain from his vapor,
28 they flow from the clouds that are woven above everything.
which the clouds pour down and drop in abundance on mankind.
29 If he wills it, he extends the clouds as his tent
Indeed, can anyone understand the extensive spread of the clouds and the thunder from his hut?
30 and shines with his light from above; likewise, he covers the oceans within his tent.
See, he spreads his lightning around him and covers the roots of the sea.
31 For he judges the people by these things, and he gives food to a multitude of mortals.
In this way he judges the peoples and gives food in abundance.
32 Within his hands, he hides the light, and he commands it to come forth again.
He fills his hands with the lightning until he commands it to strike its mark.
33 He announces it to his friend, for it is his possession and he is able to reach out to it.
Its thunder warns of the storm, the cattle can also hear it is coming.
