Add parallel Print Page Options

Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty

36 Elihu continued and said:

“Bear with me a little, and I will show you
    that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.
I will bring my knowledge from afar
    and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
For truly my words will not be false;
    He who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

“Behold, God is mighty and despises no one;
    He is mighty in strength and wisdom.
He does not preserve the life of the wicked,
    but gives justice to the poor.
He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
    but they are on the throne with kings,
    for He establishes them forever, and they are exalted.
If they are bound in chains
    and held in cords of affliction,
then He shows them their work,
    and their transgressions that they have exceeded;
10 and He opens their ear to discipline,
    and commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him,
    they will spend their days in prosperity
    and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they do not obey,
    they will perish by the sword,
    and they will die without knowledge.

13 “But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath;
    they do not cry out when He binds them.
14 They die in youth,
    and their life ends among the unclean.
15 He delivers the poor in their affliction,
    and opens their ears in oppression.

16 “Even so He would have removed you out of distress
    into a broad place where there is no restraint;
    and that which was set on your table would be full of richness.
17 But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked;
    judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with a blow;
    even a great ransom cannot deliver you.
19 Will He esteem your riches?
    No, not gold, nor all the force of your strength.
20 Do not desire the night,
    when people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed! Do not turn to iniquity,
    for you have chosen this rather than affliction.

22 “Behold, God is exalted in His power;
    who teaches like Him?
23 Who has prescribed His way for Him?
    Or who can say, ‘You have worked iniquity’?
24 Remember to magnify His work,
    which men behold.
25 Every man may see it;
    man may behold it from afar.
26 Look, God is great, and we do not know Him,
    nor can the number of His years be searched out.

27 “For He draws up the drops of water;
    they distill rain according to its mist,
28 which the clouds drop down,
    and drip upon man abundantly.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds,
    or the noise of His tent?
30 See, He spreads His light upon it
    and covers the bottom of the sea.
31 For by these He judges the people;
    He gives food in abundance.
32 With clouds He covers the light,
    and commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its thunder declares it,
    the cattle also, concerning the rising storm.

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)

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