Job 36

Elihu Speaks of God’s Dealings with Mankind

1Then Elihu continued and said,2“Wait for me a little, and I will show you That there 1is still more to be said on God’s behalf.3I will bring my knowledge from afar, And 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 5reject anyone; 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 shackles, And are caught in the snares of 11misery,9Then He declares to them their work And their wrongdoings, that they have 12been arrogant.1013He opens their ears to instruction, And 14commands that they return from injustice.11If they listen and serve Him, They will 15end their days in prosperity, And their years in 16happiness.12But if they do not listen, they will 17perish 18by the sword, And 19die without knowledge.13But the godless in heart nurture anger; They do not call for help when He binds them.1420They die in youth, And their life perishes among the 21cult prostitutes.15He rescues the afflicted in 22their 23misery, And 24opens their ears in time of oppression.16Then indeed, He induced you away from the mouth of distress, And instead of it, a broad place with no constraint; And your table was full of 25rich food.

17“But you were full of 26judgment on the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.18Beware that 27wrath does not entice you to mockery; And do not let the greatness of the 28ransom turn you aside.19Will your cry for help keep you from distress, Or all the exertions of your strength?20Do not long for 29the night, When people 30vanish in their places.21Be careful, do 31not turn to evil, For you preferred this to 32misery.22Behold, God is exalted in His power; Who is a 33teacher like Him?23Who has appointed Him His way, And who has said, ‘34You have done wrong’?

24“Remember that you are to 35exalt His work, Of which people have 36sung.25All people have seen it; Mankind looks at it from afar.26Behold, God is 37exalted, and 38we do not know Him; The 39number of His years is unsearchable.27For 40He draws up the drops of water; They distill rain from its 41celestial stream,28Which clouds pour down; They drip upon mankind abundantly.29Can anyone understand the 42spreading of the clouds, The 43thundering of His 44pavilion?30Behold, He spreads His 45lightning about Him, And He covers the depths of the sea.31For by them He 46judges peoples; He 47gives food in abundance.32He covers His hands with the 48lightning, And 49commands it to strike the target.33Its 50thundering voice declares 51His presence; The livestock also, concerning what is coming up.