1Elihu continued:2‘Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.3I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker.4Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.5‘God is mighty, but despises no-one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.6He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights.7He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them for ever.8But if people are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction,9he tells them what they have done – that they have sinned arrogantly.10He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.11If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.12But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword[1] and die without knowledge.13‘The godless in heart harbour resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.14They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines.15But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.16‘He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.17But now you are laden with the judgment due to the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you.18Be careful that no-one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.19Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?20Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes.[2]21Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.22‘God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?23Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, “You have done wrong”?24Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song.25All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar.26How great is God – beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.27‘He draws up the drops of water, which distil as rain to the streams[3];28the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.29Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?30See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.31This is the way he governs[4] the nations and provides food in abundance.32He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.33His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach.[5]
Job 36
English Standard Version
Elihu Extols God’s Greatness
1And Elihu continued, and said:2“Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God’s behalf.3I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker. (Job 35:10; Ps 78:2; Re 15:3; Re 16:5; Re 16:7; Re 19:1)4For truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you. (Job 37:16)5“Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding. (Job 8:20; Job 9:4; Job 12:13; Job 12:16; Ps 138:6)6He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right. (Job 34:28; Job 36:15)7He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne he sets them forever, and they are exalted. (Ps 33:18; Ps 34:15; Ps 75:10; Ps 113:8; Ps 132:12)8And if they are bound in chains and caught in the cords of affliction, (Job 36:13; Ps 107:10)9then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly. (Job 15:25)10He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from iniquity. (Job 33:16; Jer 18:11)11If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness. (Job 21:13; Isa 1:19)12But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword and die without knowledge. (Job 4:21; Job 33:18; Job 35:16)13“The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them. (Job 15:34; Job 36:8)14They die in youth, and their life ends among the cult prostitutes. (Job 15:32; Job 22:16; Ps 55:23)15He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity. (Job 33:15; Job 36:6; Job 36:10; Ps 119:67; Ps 119:71)16He also allured you out of distress into a broad place where there was no cramping, and what was set on your table was full of fatness. (Job 37:10; Ps 4:1; Ps 18:19; Ps 23:5; Ps 31:8; Ps 36:8; Ps 118:5)17“But you are full of the judgment on the wicked; judgment and justice seize you.18Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing, and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside. (Job 33:24)19Will your cry for help avail to keep you from distress, or all the force of your strength? (Pr 11:4)20Do not long for the night, when peoples vanish in their place. (Job 27:20; Job 34:20; Job 34:25; Job 40:12)21Take care; do not turn to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction. (Ps 66:18)22Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him? (Job 34:32; Job 35:11)23Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, ‘You have done wrong’? (Job 34:10; Job 34:13; Isa 40:13; Ro 11:34; 1Co 2:16)24“Remember to extol his work, of which men have sung. (Job 33:27; Ps 92:5; Ps 104:33; Lu 1:46; Re 15:3)25All mankind has looked on it; man beholds it from afar.26Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable. (Job 37:5; Ps 90:2; Ps 102:27; 1Co 13:12)27For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain, (Ge 2:6; Ps 147:8)28which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly. (De 33:28; Pr 3:20)29Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion? (Job 26:9; Ps 18:11; Ps 105:39)30Behold, he scatters his lightning about him and covers the roots of the sea.31For by these he judges peoples; he gives food in abundance. (Job 37:13; Ps 104:27; Ps 136:25; Ps 145:15; Ps 147:9; Ac 14:17)32He covers his hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark. (Hab 3:4)33Its crashing declares his presence;[1] the cattle also declare that he rises.