Job — Chapter 36

1Elihu also proceeded, and said,

2Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.

3I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

4For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

5Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

6He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.

7He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

8And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;

9Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

10He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

11If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

12But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

13But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

14They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

15He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.

16Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

17But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.

18Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

19Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

20Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

21Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

22Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

23Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

24Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

25Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

26Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

27For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

28Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

29Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

30Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

31For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

32With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.

33The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

1Elihu also proceeded, and said,

2Suffer me a little, and I will show thee; For I have yet somewhat to say on God`s behalf.

3I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

4For truly my words are not false: One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

5Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength of understanding.

6He preserveth not the life of the wicked, But giveth to the afflicted [their] right.

7He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.

8And if they be bound in fetters, And be taken in the cords of afflictions;

9Then he showeth them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

10He openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth that they return from iniquity.

11If they hearken and serve [him], They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.

12But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.

13But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: They cry not for help when he bindeth them.

14They die in youth, And their life [perisheth] among the unclean.

15He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression.

16Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness.

17But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold [on thee].

18For let not wrath stir thee up against chastisements; Neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.

19Will thy cry avail, [that thou be] not in distress, Or all the forces of [thy] strength?

20Desire not the night, When peoples are cut off in their place.

21Take heed, regard not iniquity: For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

22Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: Who is a teacher like unto him?

23Who hath enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?

24Remember that thou magnify his work, Whereof men have sung.

25All men have looked thereon; Man beholdeth it afar off.

26Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable.

27For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from his vapor,

28Which the skies pour down And drop upon man abundantly.

29Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion?

30Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea.

31For by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.

32He covereth his hands with the lightning, And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.

33The noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerning [the storm] that cometh up.

1Elihu said further:

2“Be patient with me a little longer, and I will instruct you, for I still have words to speak on God’s behalf.

3With my knowledge I will speak comprehensively, and to my Creator I will ascribe righteousness.

4For in truth, my words are not false; it is one complete in knowledge who is with you.

5Indeed, God is mighty, and he does not despise people; he is mighty, and firm in his intent.

6He does not allow the wicked to live, but he gives justice to the poor.

7He does not take his eyes off the righteous; but with kings on the throne he seats the righteous and exalts them forever.

8But if they are bound in chains and held captive by the cords of affliction,

9then he reveals to them what they have done and their transgressions, that they were behaving proudly.

10And he reveals this for correction and says that they must turn from evil.

11If they obey and serve him, they live out their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness.

12But if they refuse to listen, they pass over the river of death and expire without knowledge.

13The godless at heart nourish anger; they do not cry out even when he binds them.

14They die in their youth, and their life ends among the male cultic prostitutes.

15He delivers the afflicted by their afflictions; he reveals himself to them by their suffering.

16And surely, he drew you from the mouth of distress, to a wide place, unrestricted, and to the comfort of your table filled with rich food.

17But now you are preoccupied with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice take hold of you.

18Be careful that no one entices you with riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.

19Would your wealth sustain you, so that you would not be in distress, even all your mighty efforts?

20Do not long for the cover of night to drag people away from their homes.

21Take heed; do not turn to evil, for because of this you have been tested by affliction.

22Indeed, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?

23Who has prescribed his ways for him? Or said to him, ‘You have done what is wicked’?

24Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song.

25All humanity has seen it; people gaze on it from afar.

26“Yes, God is great—beyond our knowledge! The number of his years is unsearchable.

27He draws up drops of water; they distill the rain into its mist,

28which the clouds pour down and shower on humankind abundantly.

29Who can understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?

30See how he scattered his lightning about him; he has covered the depths of the sea.

31It is by these that he judges the nations and supplies food in abundance.

32With his hands he covers the lightning and directs it against its target.

33His thunder announces the coming storm, the cattle also, concerning the storm’s approach.

1Elihu also 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.

3I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

4For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

5“Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

6He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.

7He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.

8If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,

9then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

10He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.

11If they listen and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

12But if they don’t listen, they shall perish by the sword; they shall die without knowledge.

13“But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.

14They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.

15He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.

16Yes, 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 you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.

18Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.

19Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?

20Don’t desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.

21Take heed, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.

22Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

23Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness?’

24“Remember that you magnify his work, whereof men have sung.

25All men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off.

26Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.

27For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,

28Which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.

29Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?

30Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.

31For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.

32He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.

33Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.