Job 35:1–37:24
Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness
35 Moreover Elihu answered and said:
2 “Do you think this is right?
Do you say,
‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3 For ayou say,
‘What advantage will it be to You?
What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’
And byour companions with you.
5 cLook to the heavens and see;
And behold the clouds—
They are higher than you.
6 If you sin, what do you accomplish dagainst Him?
Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?
7 eIf you are righteous, what do you give Him?
Or what does He receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness affects a man such as you,
And your righteousness a son of man.
9 “Because fof the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But no one says, g‘Where is God my Maker,
hWho gives songs in the night,
11 Who iteaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’
12 jThere they cry out, but He does not answer,
Because of the pride of evil men.
13 kSurely God will not listen to empty talk,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 lAlthough you say you do not see Him,
Yet justice is before Him, and myou must wait for Him.
15 And now, because He has not npunished in His anger,
Nor taken much notice of folly,
16 oTherefore Job opens his mouth in vain;
He multiplies words without knowledge.”
Elihu Proclaims God’s Goodness
36 Elihu also proceeded and said:
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you
That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar;
I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false;
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one;
aHe is mighty in strength 1of understanding.
6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked,
But gives justice to the boppressed.
7 cHe does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But dthey are on the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever,
And they are exalted.
8 And eif they are bound in 2fetters,
Held in the cords of affliction,
9 Then He tells them their work and their transgressions—
That they have acted 3defiantly.
10 fHe also opens their ear to 4instruction,
And commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him,
They shall gspend their days in prosperity,
And their years in pleasures.
They shall perish by the sword,
And they shall die 5without hknowledge.
13 “But the hypocrites in heart istore up wrath;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
And their life ends among the 7perverted persons.
15 He delivers the poor in their affliction,
And opens their ears in oppression.
16 “Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress,
kInto a broad place where there is no restraint;
And lwhat is set on your table would be full of mrichness.
17 But you are filled with the judgment due the nwicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow;
For oa large ransom would not help you avoid it.
19 pWill your riches,
Or all the mighty forces,
Keep you from distress?
When people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, qdo not turn to iniquity,
For ryou have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 “Behold, God is exalted by His power;
Who teaches like Him?
23 sWho has assigned Him His way,
Or who has said, ‘You have done twrong’?
24 “Remember to umagnify His work,
Of which men have sung.
Man looks on it from afar.
26 “Behold, God is great, and we vdo not know Him;
wNor can the number of His years be discovered.
27 For He xdraws up drops of water,
Which distill as rain from the mist,
28 yWhich the clouds drop down
And pour abundantly on man.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds,
The thunder from His canopy?
30 Look, He zscatters His light upon it,
And covers the depths of the sea.
31 For aby these He judges the peoples;
He bgives food in abundance.
32 cHe covers His hands with lightning,
And commands it to 8strike.
33 dHis thunder declares it,
The cattle also, concerning 9the rising storm.
37 “At this also my heart trembles, And leaps from its place.
2 Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3 He sends it forth under the whole heaven,
His 1lightning to the ends of the earth.
4 After it aa voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
5 God thunders marvelously with His voice;
bHe does great things which we cannot comprehend.
6 For cHe says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;
Likewise to the 2gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
7 He seals the hand of every man,
dThat eall men may know His work.
8 The beasts fgo into dens,
And remain in their lairs.
9 From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind,
And cold from the scattering winds of the north.
10 gBy the breath of God ice is given,
And the broad waters are frozen.
11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds;
He scatters His 3bright clouds.
12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance,
That they may hdo whatever He commands them
On the face of 4the whole earth.
13 iHe causes it to come,
Whether for 5correction,
Or jfor His land,
Or kfor mercy.
Stand still and lconsider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know when God 6dispatches them,
And causes the light of His cloud to shine?
16 mDo you know how the clouds are balanced,
Those wondrous works of nHim who is perfect in knowledge?
When He quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 With Him, have you ospread out the pskies,
Strong as a cast metal mirror?
19 “Teach us what we should say to Him,
For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
20 Should He be told that I wish to speak?
If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.
21 Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies,
When the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 He comes from the north as golden splendor;
With God is awesome majesty.
23 As for the Almighty, qwe cannot find Him;
rHe is excellent in power,
In judgment and abundant justice;
He does not oppress.
24 Therefore men sfear Him;
He shows no partiality to any who are twise of heart.”