< Job 36 >

1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,
Elihu also continued, and said,
2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet somewhat to say on God’s behalf.
“Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false: one that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength of understanding.
“Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth to the afflicted [their] right.
He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the afflicted.
7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings upon the throne he setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.
He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be taken in the cords of affliction;
If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
10 He openeth also their ear to instruction, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
He also opens their ears to instruction, 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 listen and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
But if they don’t listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge.
13 But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: they cry not for help when he bindeth them.
“But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.
14 They die in youth, and their life [perisheth] among the unclean.
They die in youth. Their life perishes amongst the unclean.
15 He delivereth the afflicted by his affliction, and openeth their ear in oppression.
He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
16 Yea, he would have led thee away out of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which is set on thy table should be full of fatness.
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.
17 But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee].
“But you are full of the judgement of the wicked. Judgement and justice take hold of you.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest thou be led away by [thy] sufficiency; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.
Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
19 Will thy riches suffice, [that thou be] not in distress, or all the forces of [thy] strength?
Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
20 Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.
Don’t desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
Take heed, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: who is a teacher like unto him?
Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?
Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness’?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, whereof men have sung.
“Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung.
25 All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off.
All men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.
Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
27 For he draweth up the drops of water, which distil in rain from his vapour:
For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapour,
28 Which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly.
which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.
29 Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?
Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; and he covereth the bottom of the sea.
Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
31 For by these he judgeth the peoples; he giveth meat in abundance.
For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
32 He covereth his hands with the lightning; and giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.
He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
33 The noise thereof telleth concerning him, the cattle also concerning [the storm] that cometh up.
Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.

< Job 36 >