Job 36

Elihu also proceeded, and said,

Elihu, filled with passion, continued to speak, saying,

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

Bear with me a moment, and I'll share more of what I have to say about God.

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

I will draw my knowledge from far and wide, and show that my Creator is just.

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

Rest assured, my words are genuine and true: the one who possesses complete wisdom is by your side.

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

See, God is powerful, showing no disdain for anyone. His strength and wisdom are unparalleled.

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

He doesn't sustain the wicked, but champions the cause of the needy.

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.

God never takes His eyes off the good people; He seats them with kings, securing their place forever, lifting them high.

And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;

If they are trapped in chains, suffering in the grip of pain and hardship;

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

Then He shows them what they have done, and the sins they have committed, arrogantly going beyond what was right.

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

He opens their ears to correction and commands them to turn away from wrongdoing.

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

If they follow and honor Him, their lives will be filled with joy and their years with happiness.

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

But if they refuse to obey, they'll perish by the sword, dying in ignorance.

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

The godless in heart only pile up wrath. Even when He binds them, they don't cry out to Him for help.

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

They perish young, their existence mired in impurity.

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

He rescues the needy through their struggles, and opens their ears through their oppression.

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.

He would have freed you from your tight spot, leading you into open spaces with no restrictions. Your table would overflow with abundance.

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

But now you are full of the judgment that is due to the wicked: judgment and justice have seized you.

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

Because God's wrath is real, beware that He doesn't strike you down and take you away; once that happens, not even a vast ransom can save you.

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

Will he value your wealth? No, neither gold nor any display of power will impress him.

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

Don't long for the night, when people are cut off and swept away where they stand.

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

Be careful, don't embrace wrongdoing; you've chosen this over hardship.

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

Look, God lifts us up with His incredible strength. Who else can guide us like He does?

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

Who has the right to dictate His path? Or who dares to accuse Him of wrongdoing?

Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

Always honor and appreciate God's work, which everyone can see.

Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

Everyone can witness it; even from a distance, one can perceive it.

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

Truly, God is immense, beyond our understanding, and His existence is timeless, beyond our comprehension.

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

He transforms tiny droplets into abundant rain, falling in rhythm with its misty origin.

Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

The clouds generously shower and drench humanity with their blessings.

Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

Can anyone truly grasp the vast expanse of the clouds, or comprehend the sound of His divine dwelling?

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

Look, he showers his radiant light everywhere, even reaching the deepest parts of the sea.

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

Through these, He judges the nations; He generously provides sustenance.

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

He shrouds the light with clouds, instructing it not to peek through the intervening cloud cover.

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

The sound it makes reveals its presence, just as the livestock react to the mist.