Job 36 ⓘ
36:1 Elihu also continued, and said,
36:2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.
36:3 I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
36:4 For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
36:5 “Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
36:6 He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the afflicted.
36:7 He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
36:8 If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
36:9 then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
36:10 He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
36:11 If they listen and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
36:12 But if they don’t listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge.
36:13 “But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.
36:14 They die in youth. Their life perishes amongst the unclean.
36:15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
36:16 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.
36:17 “But you are full of the judgement of the wicked. Judgement and justice take hold of you.
36:18 Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
36:19 Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
36:20 Don’t desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
36:21 Take heed, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
36:22 Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
36:23 Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness?’
36:24 “Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung.
36:25 All men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off.
36:26 Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
36:27 For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapour,
36:28 which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.
36:29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunderings of his pavilion?
36:30 Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
36:31 For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
36:32 He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
36:33 Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.