Job 36

¹Continuing in a similar manner, Eliu had this to say:

²Bear with me for a little while and I will show you; for I have still more to say in favor of God.

³I will review my knowledge from the beginning, and I will prove my Maker to be just.

⁴For truly my words are without any falsehood and perfect knowledge will be proven to you.

⁵God does not abandon the powerful, for he himself is also powerful.

⁶But he does not save the impious, though he grants judgment to the poor.

⁷He will not take his eyes away from the just, and he continually establishes kings on their throne, and they are exalted.

⁸And, if they are in captivity, or are bound with the chains of poverty,

⁹he will reveal to them their works, as well as their sinfulness, in that they were violent.

¹⁰Likewise, he will open their ears to his correction, and he will speak to them, so that they may return from iniquity.

¹¹If they listen and obey, they will fill their days with goodness and complete their years in glory.

¹²But if they will not listen, they will pass away by the sword and will be consumed by foolishness.

¹³The false and the crafty provoke the wrath of God, yet they do not cry out to him when they are chained.

¹⁴Their soul will die in a storm, and their life, among the unmanly.

¹⁵He will rescue the poor from his anguish, and he will open his ear during tribulation.

¹⁶Therefore, he will save you from the narrow mouth very widely, even though it has no foundation under it. Moreover, your respite at table will be full of fatness.

¹⁷Your case has been judged like that of the impious; you will withdraw your plea and your judgment.

¹⁸Therefore, do not let anger overwhelm you so that you oppress another; neither should you allow a multitude of gifts to influence you.

¹⁹Lay down your greatness without distress, and put aside all of your power with courage.

²⁰Do not prolong the night, even if people rise on their behalf.

²¹Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity; for, after your misery, you have begun to follow this.

²²Behold, God is exalted in his strength, and there is no one like him among the law-givers.

²³Who is able to investigate his ways? And who can say, “You have done iniquity,” to him?

²⁴Remember that you are ignorant of his work, yet men have sung its praises.

²⁵All men consider him; and each one ponders from a distance.

²⁶Behold, God is great, defeating our knowledge; the number of his years is inestimable.

²⁷He carries away the drops of rain, and he sends forth showers like a raging whirlpool;

²⁸they flow from the clouds that are woven above everything.

²⁹If he wills it, he extends the clouds as his tent

³⁰and shines with his light from above; likewise, he covers the oceans within his tent.

³¹For he judges the people by these things, and he gives food to a multitude of mortals.

³²Within his hands, he hides the light, and he commands it to come forth again.

³³He announces it to his friend, for it is his possession and he is able to reach out to it.

Job 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.