Job 36

Elihu Speaks of God’s Dealings with Men

1Then Elihu continued and said,2“Wait for me a little, and I will show you That there 1is yet more to be said in God’s behalf.3I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And I will ascribe 2righteousness to my Maker.4For truly 3my words are not false; One who is 4perfect in knowledge is with you.5Behold, God is mighty but does not 5despise any; He is 6mighty in strength of understanding.6He does not 7keep the wicked alive, But gives justice to 8the afflicted.7He does not 9withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But 10with kings on the throne He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.8And if they are bound in fetters, And are caught in the cords of 11affliction,9Then He declares to them their work And their transgressions, that they have 12magnified themselves.1013He opens their ear to instruction, And 14commands that they return from evil.11If they hear and serve Him, They will 15end their days in prosperity And their years in 16pleasures.12But if they do not hear, they shall 17perish 18by the sword And they will 19die without knowledge.13But the godless in heart lay up anger; They do not cry for help when He binds them.1420They die in youth, And their life perishes among the 21cult prostitutes.15He delivers the afflicted in 22their 23affliction, And 24opens their ear 25in time of oppression.16Then indeed, He 26enticed you from the mouth of distress, Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint; And that which was set on your table was full of 27fatness.

17“But you were full of 28judgment on the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.18Beware that 29wrath does not entice you to scoffing; And do not let the greatness of the 30ransom turn you aside.19Will your 31riches keep you from distress, Or all the forces of your strength?20Do not long for 32the night, When people 33vanish in their place.21Be careful, do 34not turn to evil, For you have preferred this to 35affliction.22Behold, God is exalted in His power; Who is a 36teacher like Him?23Who has appointed Him His way, And who has said, ‘37You have done wrong’?

24“Remember that you should 38exalt His work, Of which men have 39sung.25All men have seen it; Man beholds from afar.26Behold, God is 40exalted, and 41we do not know Him; The 42number of His years is unsearchable.27For 43He draws up the drops of water, They distill rain from 44the 45mist,28Which the clouds pour down, They drip upon man abundantly.29Can anyone understand the 46spreading of the clouds, The 47thundering of His 48pavilion?30Behold, He spreads His 49lightning about Him, And He covers the depths of the sea.31For by these He 50judges peoples; He 51gives food in abundance.32He covers His hands with the 52lightning, And 53commands it to strike the mark.33Its 54noise declares 55His presence; The cattle also, concerning what is coming up.