Job 36

1 And Elihu continued:

2 “Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.

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

4 For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.

5 Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.

6 He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.

7 He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.

8 And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,

9 then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.

10 He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.

11 If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.

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

13 The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.

14 They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.

15 God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.

16 Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.

17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.

18 Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.

19 Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?

20 Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.

21 Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.

22 Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?

23 Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?

24 Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.

25 All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.

26 Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.

27 For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,

28 which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.

29 Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?

30 See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.

31 For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.

32 He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.

33 The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.

1 ¶ Elihu also proceeded, and said,

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

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

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

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

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

7 He 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16 Even 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 Elihu continued to speak, saying:

2 Wait yet a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet a thing to say for God's sake.

3 I will take my understanding far, and prove my maker to be right.

4 My words shall not be false without a doubt; my understanding shall be without change before thee.

5 Behold, GOD rejecteth not the mighty: for he also is mighty in strength of heart.

6 He preserveth not the wicked, but helpeth the needy to do right.

7 He turneth not his eyes from the righteous: and he sitteth kings upon the throne for ever, that they may be exalted.

8 And where prisoners lie in staves, and bound with cords miserably,

9 Then shall he declare unto them what they have done, and their iniquity, that they have used violence.

10 And open unto them the ear of correction, and tell them to turn from that which is unjust.

11 If they obey and serve him, they shall grow old in good days, and live with pleasure. 12: If they obey not, they shall fall on the sword, and perish before they know it.

13 The hypocrites, when wrath is upon them, cry not out when they lie captive;

14 Then shall her soul die with anguish, and her life among the harlots.

15 But he shall deliver the wretched out of his affliction, and shall open the ear of the poor in tribulation.

16 He shall pluck thee out of the wide mouth of fear, which hath no bottom: and thy table shall have rest, full of all good.

17 But thou makest good the cause of the wicked, that their cause and right may be established.

18 See thou be not moved with anger to afflict any man, or that great gifts have not bowed thee down.

19 Thinkest thou that he will esteem thy power, or gold, or any strength, or fortune?

20 Thou shalt not covet the night to come upon the people in their place.

21 Beware, and turn not thou to iniquity, as thou didst begin in misery.

22 Behold, God is too high in His power; where is a teacher like Him?

23 Who shall punish his way against him, and who shall say unto him, Thou doest wrong? Chap.

24 Remember that thou knowest not his work, as men sing.

25 For all men see it, men behold it afar off.

26 Behold, God is great and unknown; the number of His years no man can inquire.

27 He maketh the waters small drops, and gathereth his clouds together for rain,

28 That the clouds flow and drip greatly upon men.

29 When he purposeth to spread out the clouds, as his high tent,

30 Behold, he spreadeth out his lightning upon them, and covereth all the ends of the sea.

31 For thereby he terrifieth the people, and yet giveth meat abundantly.

32 He covereth the lightning as with his hands, and yet calleth it to come again.

33 To which his companion, that is, the thunder's fury in the clouds, bears witness.