Job 36
1 Elihu [finished by] saying this:
Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2 “[Job, ] be patient with me a little longer, because I have something else to teach you. I have something else to say that God [wants you to know].
Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet somewhat to say on God’s behalf.
3 I will tell you what I have learned from many sources, in order to show that God, my creator, is just/fair.
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 I am not saying anything to you that is false; I, who am standing in front of you, am someone who understands things (very well/perfectly) [HYP].
For truly my words are not false: one that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5 “Hey, God is [very] powerful, and he does not despise anyone, and he understands everything.
Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not allow wicked people to remain alive, and he always acts justly toward those who are poor.
He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth to the afflicted [their] right.
7 He always watches over [MTY] those who are righteous; he allows them to sit on thrones [and rule] with kings, and they are honored forever.
He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings upon the throne he setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.
8 But if people [who commit crimes] are caught, they [are thrown into prison and] are caused to suffer by being fastened with chains.
And if they be bound in fetters, and be taken in the cords of affliction;
9 When that happens, God shows them what they have done; he shows them the sins that they have committed, and he shows them that they have been proud/arrogant.
Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
10 He causes them to listen [MTY] to what he is warning them, and he commands them to turn away from [doing what is] evil.
He openeth also their ear to instruction, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11 If they (listen to/heed) him and serve him, [after they get out of prison] they will prosper for all the years that they are alive and be peaceful/happy.
If they hearken and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they do not (listen/pay attention) to him, they will die violently, not knowing [why God is causing them to die].
But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13 “Godless/Wicked people continue being angry, and they do not cry out for help, [even] when God is punishing them.
But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: they cry not for help when he bindeth them.
14 They die while they are still young, disgraced because of their very immoral behavior [EUP].
They die in youth, and their life [perisheth] among the unclean.
15 But God teaches people by causing them to suffer; by afflicting them, he causes them to listen to [MTY] what he is telling them.
He delivereth the afflicted by his affliction, and openeth their ear in oppression.
16 “And Job, [I think that] God [wants to] bring you out of your troubles and allow you to live without distress; he wants your table to be full of very nice food.
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.
17 But now, you are being punished [MTY] as wicked people are punished; [God] [PRS] has been punishing you (justly/as you deserve).
But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee].
18 So be careful that you are not deceived by [desiring to acquire] money or that you are not ruined by [accepting] large bribes.
Because there is wrath, beware lest thou be led away by [thy] sufficiency; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.
19 [If you are deceived by those things, ] it certainly will not [RHQ] help you to cry out when you are distressed; all of your strength will not help you.
Will thy riches suffice, [that thou be] not in distress, or all the forces of [thy] strength?
20 Do not wish that it would be nighttime [in order that God will not see you and punish you], because night is the time when [even] people-groups are destroyed!
Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.
21 Be careful not to [begin doing] evil things, because [God] has caused you to suffer to prevent you from doing evil.
Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
22 “Hey, God is extremely powerful; there is certainly [RHQ] no teacher who teaches like he does.
Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: who is a teacher like unto him?
23 No one has [RHQ] told him what he should do, and no one has [RHQ] said to him, ‘You have done what is wrong!’
Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?
24 People have [always] sung to praise him, so you also should never forget to praise him for what he has done.
Remember that thou magnify his work, whereof men have sung.
25 Everyone has seen [what he has done], but [sometimes] we can see it only from far away.
All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off.
26 “Hey, God is very great, and we are not able to know how great he is, and we do not know how old he is.
Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.
27 He draws water up [from the earth and puts it in clouds] and causes it to become rain.
For he draweth up the drops of water, which distil in rain from his vapour:
28 The rain pours down from the sky/clouds; God causes abundant showers to fall on everyone.
Which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly.
29 No one can [RHQ] understand how the clouds move [across the sky] or how it thunders in the sky where God lives.
Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 He causes lightning to flash all around him, but he causes the bottom of the oceans to remain dark.
Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; and he covereth the bottom of the sea.
31 By providing plenty of rain for us, he enables us to have abundant food.
For by these he judgeth the peoples; he giveth meat in abundance.
32 [It is as though] he holds the lightning in his hands, and [then] he commands it to strike where he wants it to.
He covereth his hands with the lightning; and giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.
33 When we hear his thunder, we know that there will be a storm, and the cattle know it, too.”
The noise thereof telleth concerning him, the cattle also concerning [the storm] that cometh up.
