Job 36

1 And Elihu continued:

1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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