Job 36

1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,

2 Suffer me a little, and I will show 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 afflictions;

9 Then he showeth 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 their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression.

16 Yea, 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.

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

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

19 Will thy cry avail, 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 vapor,

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 food 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.

JOB 36

Elihu Continues

Be Patient a While Longer

1 Elihu said:

2 Be patient a while longer;
I have something else to say
in God's defense.

3 God always does right—
and this knowledge
comes straight from God.t

4 You can rest assured
that what I say is true.

5 Although God is mighty,
he cares about everyone
and makes fair decisions.

6 The wicked are cut down,
and those who are wronged
receive justice.

7 God watches over good people
and places them in positions
of power and honor forever.

8 But when people are prisoners
of suffering and pain,
*

9 God points out their sin
and their pride,

10 then he warns them
to turn back to him.

11 And if they obey,
they will be successful
and happy from then on.

12 But if they foolishly refuse,
they will be rewarded
with a violent death.

Godless People Are Too Angry

13 Godless people are too angry
to ask God for help
when he punishes them.

14 So they die young
in shameful disgrace.

15 Hard times and trouble
are God's way
of getting our attention!

16 And at this very moment,
God deeply desires
to lead you from trouble
and to spread your table
with your favorite food.

17 Now that the judgment
for your sins
has fallen upon you,

18 don't let your anger
and the pain you endured
make you sneer at God.

19 Your reputation and riches
cannot protect you
from distress,

20 nor can you find safety
in the dark world below.t

21 Be on guard! Don't turn to evil
as a way of escape.

22 God's power is unlimited.
He needs no teachers

23 to guide or correct him.

Others Have Praised God

24 Others have praised God
for what he has done,
so join with them.

25 From down here on earth,
everyone has looked up and seen

26 how great God is—
God is more than we imagine;
no one can count the years
he has lived.
*

27 God gathers moisture
into the clouds

28 and supplies us with rain.

29 Who can understand
how God scatters the clouds
and speaks from his home
in the thunderstorm?

30 And when God sends lightning,
it can be seen
at the bottom of the sea.t

31 By producing such rainstorms,
God rules the world
and provides us with food.

32 Each flash of lightning
is one of his arrows
striking its target,

33 and the thunder tells
of his anger against sin.t