Job 36

1Elihu also proceeded, and said,

1Elihu continued speaking and said:

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

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

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

3I will bring my knowledge from far away to prove that my Maker is fair and just.

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

4I promise you that my words are not lies; someone with perfect knowledge is standing here with you.

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

5Look, God is powerful, yet he does not despise anyone; his understanding is limitless.

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

6He does not let the wicked go unpunished, but he ensures that those who suffer receive justice.

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

7He never takes his eyes off the righteous; he seats them on thrones with kings and honors them forever.

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

8But if they are bound in chains or caught in the ropes of misery,

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

9he tells them what they have done—that they have sinned by acting proudly.

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

10He makes them listen to his correction and commands them to turn away from evil.

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

11If they listen and serve him, they will live out the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.

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

12But if they do not listen, they will die by the sword and perish in their ignorance.

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

13The godless at heart hold onto their anger; even when God punishes them, they do not cry for help.

14They die in youth, And their lifeperisheth among the unclean.

14They die while they are still young, ending their lives in shame.

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

15But God rescues the suffering through their suffering; he speaks to them in their time of trouble.

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.

16He is trying to lure you away from danger into a wide-open space where you are not crowded, and where your table is loaded with the best food.

17But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take holdon thee.

17But you are obsessed with the judgment due to the wicked; you are caught up in legal arguments and justice.

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

18Be careful that your anger doesn't lead you to mock God; don't let a heavy penalty turn you away.

19Will thy cry avail, that thou be not in distress, Or all the forces ofthystrength?

19Will your wealth or all your great efforts keep you from being in distress?

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

20Do not long for the night, when people are snatched away from their homes.

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

21Be careful not to turn to evil, for it seems you have preferred sin to suffering.

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

22Look, God is supreme in his power; who is a teacher like him?

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

23Who has ever told God what to do? Who can say to him, 'You have done wrong'?

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

24Remember to praise his work, which people have celebrated in song.

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

25Everyone has seen it; people look at it from a distance.

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

26Look, God is greater than we can understand; no one can count the number of his years.

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

27He draws up the water droplets, which turn into rain from the mist.

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

28The clouds pour down the water, showering it onto all people.

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

29Can anyone truly understand how the clouds spread or how the thunder crashes from his home in the sky?

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

30Look at how he scatters his light around him and covers the depths of the sea.

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

31This is how he governs the nations and provides food in abundance.

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

32He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to hit its target.

33The noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerningthe stormthat cometh up.

33The thunder announces the coming storm, and even the cattle know it is approaching.