Job, 36

1. Elihu also proceeded, and said,

1. Elihu proceeded further:

2. Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that [I have] yet to speak on God's behalf.

2. Bear with me a little and I will explain, for I have more to say on God's behalf.

3. I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

3. I will spread my knowledge afar to do justice to my Maker.

4. For truly my words [shall] not [be] false: he that is perfect in knowledge [is] with thee.

4. Be assured that my words are not false, for you have before you an enlightened man.

5. Behold, God [is] mighty, and despiseth not [any: he is] mighty in strength [and] wisdom.

5. God is mighty indeed but he does not despise the pure of heart.

6. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.

6. He cuts off the power of the sinner and restores the right of the oppressed,

7. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings [are they] on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

7. he does not forsake their claim. He sets kings on their thrones and makes them firm forever. But if they raise themselves in pride,

8. And if [they be] bound in fetters, [and] be holden in cords of affliction;

8. he has them bound with fetters and held fast by bonds of affliction.

9. Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

9. Then he tells them what they have done, all their sins and arrogance.

10. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

10. He opens their ears to correction and exhorts them to repentance.

11. If they obey and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

11. If they obey and serve him, they spend their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.

12. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

12. But if they do not listen, they go to the grave: knowledge would have saved them.

13. But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

13. These hypocrites harbor resentment: they do not pray for help in their bonds,

14. They die in youth, and their life [is] among the unclean.

14. therefore they die in their youth and perish among the reprobate.

15. He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.

15. God saves the wretched through their suffering, God instructs the unfortunate.

16. Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait [into] a broad place, where [there is] no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table [should be] full of fatness.

16. In like manner, he brings you from distress to a free and broad space, to a table filled with rich food.

17. But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee].

17. Then you will judge the wicked; justice and judgment will be yours.

18. Because [there is] wrath, [beware] lest he take thee away with [his] stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

18. Take care lest you be seduced by generosity; do not yield to arrogance, bribery and corruption.

19. Will he esteem thy riches? [no], not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

19. Your wealth and all your mighty efforts will not bail you out of distress.

20. Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

20. Do not long for the coming of night to drag people away from their homes.

21. Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

21. Beware of turning to iniquity; because of it you have been tried by affliction.

22. Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

22. God is exalted in his power. What teacher is there like him?

23. Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

23. Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him that he has done wrong?

24. Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

24. Remember to extol his work, of which many men have sung.

25. Every man may see it; man may behold [it] afar off.

25. All mankind has seen it; men gaze on it from afar.

26. Behold, God [is] great, and we know [him] not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

26. God is great beyond our understanding; the number of his years is past reckoning.

27. For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

27. He holds in check the waterdrops which distill from the mist as rain,

28. Which the clouds do drop [and] distil upon man abundantly.

28. then the clouds pour them down and drop them upon the earth as showers.

29. Also can [any] understand the spreadings of the clouds, [or] the noise of his tabernacle?

29. Who can understand how he spreads the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?

30. Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

30. He unfurls his mists and covers the expanse of the sea.

31. For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

31. This is the way he nourishes the land that provides food in abundance.

32. With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it [not to shine] by [the cloud] that cometh betwixt.

32. With both hands he lifts up lightning and commands it to strike the target.

33. The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

33. His thunder warns the shepherd and the flock senses the tempest.