36:1 Elihu said further:
36:2 “Be patient
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
who is with you.
36:5 Indeed, God is mighty; and he does not despise people,
he
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
but with kings on the throne
he seats the righteous
36:8 But if they are bound in chains,
and held captive by the cords of affliction,
36:9 then he reveals
and their transgressions,
that they were behaving proudly.
36:10 And he reveals
and says that they must turn
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
they do not cry out even when he binds them.
36:14 They die
and their life ends among the male cultic prostitutes.
36:15 He delivers the afflicted by
he reveals himself to them
36:16 And surely, he drew you
to a wide place, unrestricted,
and to the comfort
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
do not let a large bribe
36:19 Would your wealth
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
36:22 Indeed, God is exalted in his power;
who is a teacher
36:23 Who has prescribed his ways for him?
Or said to him, ‘You have done what is wicked’?
36:24 Remember to extol
which people have praised in song.
36:25 All humanity has seen it;
people gaze on it from afar.
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
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
he has covered the depths
36:31 It is by these that he judges
and supplies food in abundance.
36:32 With his hands
and directs it against its target.
36:33
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 rumbling
37:3 Under the whole heaven he lets it go,
even his lightning to the far corners
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
and to the torrential rains,
37:7 He causes everyone to stop working,
so that all people
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
wheeling about according to his plans,
to carry out
over the face of the whole inhabited world.
37:13 Whether it is for punishment
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
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
solid as a mirror of molten metal?
37:19 Tell us what we should
We cannot prepare a case
because of the darkness.
37:20 Should he be informed that I want
If a man speaks, surely he would be swallowed up!
37:21 But now, the sun
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,
He is great in power,
but justice
37:24 Therefore people fear him,
for he does not regard all the wise in heart.”