Job 36:1–33
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.