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36 And Elihu addeth and saith: --

Honour me a little, and I shew thee, That yet for God [are] words.

I lift up my knowledge from afar, And to my Maker I ascribe righteousness.

For, truly, my words [are] not false, The perfect in knowledge [is] with thee.

Lo, God [is] mighty, and despiseth not, Mighty [in] power [and] heart.

He reviveth not the wicked, And the judgment of the poor appointeth;

He withdraweth not from the righteous His eyes, And [from] kings on the throne, And causeth them to sit for ever, and they are high,

And if prisoners in fetters They are captured with cords of affliction,

Then He declareth to them their work, And their transgressions, Because they have become mighty,

10 And He uncovereth their ear for instruction, And saith that they turn back from iniquity.

11 If they do hear and serve, They complete their days in good, And their years in pleasantness.

12 And if they do not hearken, By the dart they pass away, And expire without knowledge.

13 And the profane in heart set the face, They cry not when He hath bound them.

14 Their soul dieth in youth, And their life among the defiled.

15 He draweth out the afflicted in his affliction, And uncovereth in oppression their ear.

16 And also He moved thee from a strait place, [To] a broad place -- no straitness under it, And the sitting beyond of thy table Hath been full of fatness.

17 And the judgment of the wicked thou hast fulfilled, Judgment and justice are upheld -- because of fury,

18 Lest He move thee with a stroke, And the abundance of an atonement turn thee not aside.

19 Doth He value thy riches? He hath gold, and all the forces of power.

20 Desire not the night, For the going up of peoples in their stead.

21 Take heed -- do not turn unto iniquity, For on this thou hast fixed Rather than [on] affliction.

22 Lo, God doth sit on high by His power, Who [is] like Him -- a teacher?

23 Who hath appointed unto Him his way? And who said, `Thou hast done iniquity?'

24 Remember that thou magnify His work That men have beheld.

25 All men have looked on it, Man looketh attentively from afar.

26 Lo, God [is] high, And we know not the number of His years, Yea, there [is] no searching.

27 When He doth diminish droppings of the waters, They refine rain according to its vapour,

28 Which clouds do drop, They distil on man abundantly.

29 Yea, doth [any] understand The spreadings out of a cloud? The noises of His tabernacle?

30 Lo, He hath spread over it His light, And the roots of the sea He hath covered,

31 For by them He doth judge peoples, He giveth food in abundance.

32 By two palms He hath covered the light, And layeth a charge over it in meeting,

33 He sheweth by it [to] his friend substance, Anger against perversity.

37 Also, at this my heart trembleth, And it moveth from its place.

Hearken diligently to the trembling of His voice, Yea, the sound from His mouth goeth forth.

Under the whole heavens He directeth it, And its light [is] over the skirts of the earth.

After it roar doth a voice -- He thundereth with the voice of His excellency, And He doth not hold them back, When His voice is heard.

God thundereth with His voice wonderfully, Doing great things and we know not.

For to snow He saith, `Be [on] the earth.' And the small rain and great rain of His power.

Into the hand of every man he sealeth, For the knowledge by all men of His work.

And enter doth the beast into covert, And in its habitations it doth continue.

From the inner chamber cometh a hurricane, And from scatterings winds -- cold,

10 From the breath of God is frost given, And the breadth of waters is straitened,

11 Yea, by filling He doth press out a cloud, Scatter a cloud doth His light.

12 And it is turning itself round by His counsels, For their doing all He commandeth them, On the face of the habitable earth.

13 Whether for a rod, or for His land, Or for kindness -- He doth cause it to come.

14 Hear this, O Job, Stand and consider the wonders of God.

15 Dost thou know when God doth place them, And caused to shine the light of His cloud?

16 Dost thou know the balancings of a cloud? The wonders of the Perfect in knowledge?

17 How thy garments [are] warm, In the quieting of the earth from the south?

18 Thou hast made an expanse with Him For the clouds -- strong as a hard mirror!

19 Let us know what we say to Him, We set not in array because of darkness.

20 Is it declared to Him that I speak? If a man hath spoken, surely he is swallowed up.

21 And now, they have not seen the light, Bright it [is] in the clouds, And the wind hath passed by and cleanseth them.

22 From the golden north it cometh, Beside God [is] fearful honour.

23 The Mighty! we have not found Him out, High in power and judgment, He doth not answer! And abundant in righteousness,

24 Therefore do men fear Him, He seeth not any of the wise of heart.

36 Elihu continued:

“Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
    that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
I get my knowledge from afar;(A)
    I will ascribe justice to my Maker.(B)
Be assured that my words are not false;(C)
    one who has perfect knowledge(D) is with you.(E)

“God is mighty,(F) but despises no one;(G)
    he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.(H)
He does not keep the wicked alive(I)
    but gives the afflicted their rights.(J)
He does not take his eyes off the righteous;(K)
    he enthrones them with kings(L)
    and exalts them forever.(M)
But if people are bound in chains,(N)
    held fast by cords of affliction,(O)
he tells them what they have done—
    that they have sinned arrogantly.(P)
10 He makes them listen(Q) to correction(R)
    and commands them to repent of their evil.(S)
11 If they obey and serve him,(T)
    they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity(U)
    and their years in contentment.(V)
12 But if they do not listen,
    they will perish by the sword[a](W)
    and die without knowledge.(X)

13 “The godless in heart(Y) harbor resentment;(Z)
    even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.(AA)
14 They die in their youth,(AB)
    among male prostitutes of the shrines.(AC)
15 But those who suffer(AD) he delivers in their suffering;(AE)
    he speaks(AF) to them in their affliction.(AG)

16 “He is wooing(AH) you from the jaws of distress
    to a spacious place(AI) free from restriction,(AJ)
    to the comfort of your table(AK) laden with choice food.(AL)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;(AM)
    judgment and justice have taken hold of you.(AN)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
    do not let a large bribe(AO) turn you aside.(AP)
19 Would your wealth(AQ) or even all your mighty efforts
    sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20 Do not long for the night,(AR)
    to drag people away from their homes.[b]
21 Beware of turning to evil,(AS)
    which you seem to prefer to affliction.(AT)

22 “God is exalted in his power.(AU)
    Who is a teacher like him?(AV)
23 Who has prescribed his ways(AW) for him,(AX)
    or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?(AY)
24 Remember to extol his work,(AZ)
    which people have praised in song.(BA)
25 All humanity has seen it;(BB)
    mortals gaze on it from afar.
26 How great is God—beyond our understanding!(BC)
    The number of his years is past finding out.(BD)

27 “He draws up the drops of water,(BE)
    which distill as rain to the streams[c];(BF)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
    and abundant showers(BG) fall on mankind.(BH)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
    how he thunders(BI) from his pavilion?(BJ)
30 See how he scatters his lightning(BK) about him,
    bathing the depths of the sea.(BL)
31 This is the way he governs[d] the nations(BM)
    and provides food(BN) in abundance.(BO)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
    and commands it to strike its mark.(BP)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;(BQ)
    even the cattle make known its approach.[e](BR)

37 “At this my heart pounds(BS)
    and leaps from its place.
Listen!(BT) Listen to the roar of his voice,(BU)
    to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.(BV)
He unleashes his lightning(BW) beneath the whole heaven
    and sends it to the ends of the earth.(BX)
After that comes the sound of his roar;
    he thunders(BY) with his majestic voice.(BZ)
When his voice resounds,
    he holds nothing back.
God’s voice thunders(CA) in marvelous ways;(CB)
    he does great things beyond our understanding.(CC)
He says to the snow,(CD) ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’(CE)
So that everyone he has made may know his work,(CF)
    he stops all people from their labor.[f](CG)
The animals take cover;(CH)
    they remain in their dens.(CI)
The tempest comes out from its chamber,(CJ)
    the cold from the driving winds.(CK)
10 The breath of God produces ice,
    and the broad waters become frozen.(CL)
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;(CM)
    he scatters his lightning(CN) through them.(CO)
12 At his direction they swirl around
    over the face of the whole earth
    to do whatever he commands them.(CP)
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,(CQ)
    or to water his earth and show his love.(CR)

14 “Listen(CS) to this, Job;
    stop and consider God’s wonders.(CT)
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
    and makes his lightning(CU) flash?(CV)
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,(CW)
    those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?(CX)
17 You who swelter in your clothes
    when the land lies hushed under the south wind,(CY)
18 can you join him in spreading out the skies,(CZ)
    hard as a mirror of cast bronze?(DA)

19 “Tell us what we should say to him;(DB)
    we cannot draw up our case(DC) because of our darkness.(DD)
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
    Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21 Now no one can look at the sun,(DE)
    bright as it is in the skies
    after the wind has swept them clean.
22 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;(DF)
    God comes in awesome majesty.(DG)
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;(DH)
    in his justice(DI) and great righteousness, he does not oppress.(DJ)
24 Therefore, people revere him,(DK)
    for does he not have regard for all the wise(DL) in heart?[g]

Footnotes

  1. Job 36:12 Or will cross the river
  2. Job 36:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.
  3. Job 36:27 Or distill from the mist as rain
  4. Job 36:31 Or nourishes
  5. Job 36:33 Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil
  6. Job 37:7 Or work, / he fills all people with fear by his power
  7. Job 37:24 Or for he does not have regard for any who think they are wise.