Job 35:1--37:24

Elihu’s Third Speech

35:1 Then Elihu answered:

35:2 “Do you think this to be just:

when you say, ‘My right before God.’

35:3 But you say, ‘What will it profit you,’

and, ‘What do I gain by not sinning?’

35:4 I will reply to you,

and to your friends with you.

35:5 Gaze at the heavens and see;

consider the clouds, which are higher than you!

35:6 If you sin, how does it affect God?

If your transgressions are many,

what does it do to him?

35:7 If you are righteous, what do you give to God,

or what does he receive from your hand?

35:8 Your wickedness affects only a person like yourself,

and your righteousness only other people.

35:9 “People cry out

because of the excess of oppression;

they cry out for help

because of the power of the mighty.

35:10 But no one says, ‘Where is God, my Creator,

who gives songs in the night,

35:11 who teaches us more than the wild animals of the earth,

and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’

35:12 Then they cry out – but he does not answer –

because of the arrogance of the wicked.

35:13 Surely it is an empty cry – God does not hear it;

the Almighty does not take notice of it.

35:14 How much less, then,

when you say that you do not perceive him,

that the case is before him

and you are waiting for him!

35:15 And further, when you say

that his anger does not punish,

and that he does not know transgression!

35:16 So Job opens his mouth to no purpose;

without knowledge he multiplies words.”

Elihu’s Fourth Speech

36:1 Elihu said further:

36:2 “Be patient with me a little longer

and I will instruct you,

for I still have words to speak on God’s behalf.

36:3 With my knowledge I will speak comprehensively,

and to my Creator I will ascribe righteousness.

36:4 For in truth, my words are not false;

it is one complete in knowledge

who is with you.

36:5 Indeed, God is mighty; and he does not despise people,

he is mighty, and firm in his intent.

36:6 He does not allow the wicked to live,

but he gives justice to the poor.

36:7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous;

but with kings on the throne

he seats the righteous and exalts them forever.

36:8 But if they are bound in chains,

and held captive by the cords of affliction,

36:9 then he reveals to them what they have done,

and their transgressions,

that they were behaving proudly.

36:10 And he reveals this for correction,

and says that they must turn from evil.

36:11 If they obey and serve him,

they live out their days in prosperity

and their years in pleasantness.

36:12 But if they refuse to listen,

they pass over the river of death,

and expire without knowledge.

36:13 The godless at heart nourish anger,

they do not cry out even when he binds them.

36:14 They die in their youth,

and their life ends among the male cultic prostitutes.

36:15 He delivers the afflicted by their afflictions,

he reveals himself to them by their suffering.

36:16 And surely, he drew you from the mouth of distress,

to a wide place, unrestricted,

and to the comfort of your table

filled with rich food.

36:17 But now you are preoccupied with the judgment due the wicked,

judgment and justice take hold of you.

36:18 Be careful that no one entices you with riches;

do not let a large bribe turn you aside.

36:19 Would your wealth sustain you,

so that you would not be in distress,

even all your mighty efforts?

36:20 Do not long for the cover of night

to drag people away from their homes.

36:21 Take heed, do not turn to evil,

for because of this you have been tested by affliction.

36:22 Indeed, God is exalted in his power;

who is a teacher like him?

36:23 Who has prescribed his ways for him?

Or said to him, ‘You have done what is wicked’?

36:24 Remember to extol his work,

which people have praised in song.

36:25 All humanity has seen it;

people gaze on it from afar.

The Work and Wisdom of God

36:26 “Yes, God is great – beyond our knowledge!

The number of his years is unsearchable.

36:27 He draws up drops of water;

they distill the rain into its mist,

36:28 which the clouds pour down

and shower on humankind abundantly.

36:29 Who can understand the spreading of the clouds,

the thunderings of his pavilion?

36:30 See how he scattered his lightning about him;

he has covered the depths of the sea.

36:31 It is by these that he judges the nations

and supplies food in abundance.

36:32 With his hands he covers the lightning,

and directs it against its target.

36:33 His thunder announces the coming storm,

the cattle also, concerning the storm’s approach.

37:1 At this also my heart pounds

and leaps from its place.

37:2 Listen carefully to the thunder of his voice,

to the rumbling that proceeds from his mouth.

37:3 Under the whole heaven he lets it go,

even his lightning to the far corners of the earth.

37:4 After that a voice roars;

he thunders with an exalted voice,

and he does not hold back his lightning bolts

when his voice is heard.

37:5 God thunders with his voice in marvelous ways;

he does great things beyond our understanding.

37:6 For to the snow he says, ‘Fall to earth,’

and to the torrential rains, ‘Pour down.’

37:7 He causes everyone to stop working,

so that all people may know his work.

37:8 The wild animals go to their lairs,

and in their dens they remain.

37:9 A tempest blows out from its chamber,

icy cold from the driving winds.

37:10 The breath of God produces ice,

and the breadth of the waters freeze solid.

37:11 He loads the clouds with moisture;

he scatters his lightning through the clouds.

37:12 The clouds go round in circles,

wheeling about according to his plans,

to carry out all that he commands them

over the face of the whole inhabited world.

37:13 Whether it is for punishment for his land,

or whether it is for mercy,

he causes it to find its mark.

37:14 “Pay attention to this, Job!

Stand still and consider the wonders God works.

37:15 Do you know how God commands them,

how he makes lightning flash in his storm cloud?

37:16 Do you know about the balancing of the clouds,

that wondrous activity of him who is perfect in knowledge?

37:17 You, whose garments are hot

when the earth is still because of the south wind,

37:18 will you, with him, spread out the clouds,

solid as a mirror of molten metal?

37:19 Tell us what we should say to him.

We cannot prepare a case

because of the darkness.

37:20 Should he be informed that I want to speak?

If a man speaks, surely he would be swallowed up!

37:21 But now, the sun cannot be looked at –

it is bright in the skies –

after a wind passed and swept the clouds away.

37:22 From the north he comes in golden splendor;

around God is awesome majesty.

37:23 As for the Almighty, we cannot attain to him!

He is great in power,

but justice and abundant righteousness he does not oppress.

37:24 Therefore people fear him,

for he does not regard all the wise in heart.”