Job 36
¹ Elihu also proceeded, and said,
² Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet somewhat to say on God’s behalf.
³ I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
⁴ For truly my words are not false: one that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
⁵ Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength of understanding.
⁶ He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth to the afflicted their right.
⁷ He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings upon the throne he setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.
⁸ And if they be bound in fetters, and be taken in the cords of affliction;
⁹ Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
¹⁰ He openeth also their ear to instruction, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
¹¹ If they hearken and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
¹² But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
¹³ But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: they cry not for help when he bindeth them.
¹⁴ They die in youth, and their life perisheth among the unclean.
¹⁵ He delivereth the afflicted by his affliction, and openeth their ear in oppression.
¹⁶ Yea, he would have led thee away out of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which is set on thy table should be full of fatness.
¹⁷ But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
¹⁸ Because there is wrath, beware lest thou be led away by thy sufficiency; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.
¹⁹ Will thy riches suffice, that thou be not in distress, or all the forces of thy strength?
²⁰ Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.
²¹ Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
²² Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: who is a teacher like unto him?
²³ Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?
²⁴ Remember that thou magnify his work, whereof men have sung.
²⁵ All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off.
²⁶ Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.
²⁷ For he draweth up the drops of water, which distil in rain from his vapour:
²⁸ Which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly.
²⁹ Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?
³⁰ Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; and he covereth the bottom of the sea.
³¹ For by these he judgeth the peoples; he giveth meat in abundance.
³² He covereth his hands with the lightning; and giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.
³³ The noise thereof telleth concerning him, the cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up.