Job 36- 1
- Elihu continued:
- 2
- "Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God's behalf.
- 3
- I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
- 4
- Be assured that my words are not false; one perfect in knowledge is with you.
- 5
- "God is mighty, but does not despise men; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.
- 6
- He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights.
- 7
- He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
- 8
- But if men are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction,
- 9
- he tells them what they have done-- that they have sinned arrogantly.
- 10
- He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.
- 11
- If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.
- 12
- But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword [1] and die without knowledge.
- 13
- "The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.
- 14
- They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines.
- 15
- But 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.
- 17
- But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you.
- 18
- Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.
- 19
- Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?
- 20
- Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes. [2]
- 21
- Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.
- 22
- "God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
- 23
- Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, `You have done wrong'?
- 24
- Remember to extol his work, which men have praised in song.
- 25
- All mankind has seen it; men gaze on it from afar.
- 26
- How great is God--beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.
- 27
- "He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams [3] ;
- 28
- the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.
- 29
- Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?
- 30
- See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.
- 31
- This is the way he governs [4] the nations and provides food in abundance.
- 32
- He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
- 33
- His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach. [5]
- [12] Or will cross the River
- [20] The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.
- [27] Or distill from the mist as rain
- [31] Or nourishes
- [33] Or announces his coming-- the One zealous against evil