Job 36
Elihu’s Fourth Speech1
36:1 Elihu said further:2
36:2 “Be patient3 with me a little longer
and I will instruct you,
for I still have words to speak on God’s behalf.4
36:3 With my knowledge I will speak comprehensively,5
and to my Creator I will ascribe righteousness.6
36:4 For in truth, my words are not false;
it is one complete7 in knowledge
who is with you.
36:5 Indeed, God is mighty; and he does not despise people,8
he9 is mighty, and firm10 in his intent.11
36:6 He does not allow the wicked to live,12
but he gives justice to the poor.
36:7 He does not take his eyes13 off the righteous;
but with kings on the throne
he seats the righteous14 and exalts them forever.15
36:8 But if they are bound in chains,16
and held captive by the cords of affliction,
36:9 then he reveals17 to them what they have done,18
and their transgressions,
that they were behaving proudly.
36:10 And he reveals19 this20 for correction,
and says that they must turn21 from evil.
36:11 If they obey and serve him,
they live out their days in prosperity
and their years in pleasantness.22
36:12 But if they refuse to listen,
they pass over the river of death,23
and expire without knowledge.
36:13 The godless at heart24 nourish anger,25
they do not cry out even when he binds them.
36:14 They die26 in their youth,
and their life ends among the male cultic prostitutes.27
36:15 He delivers the afflicted by28 their29 afflictions,
he reveals himself to them30 by their suffering.
36:16 And surely, he drew you31 from the mouth of distress,
to a wide place, unrestricted,32
and to the comfort33 of your table
filled with rich food.34
36:17 But now you are preoccupied with the judgment due the wicked,
judgment and justice take hold of you.
36:18 Be careful that35 no one entices you with riches;
do not let a large bribe36 turn you aside.
36:19 Would your wealth37 sustain you,
so that you would not be in distress,38
even all your mighty efforts?39
36:20 Do not long for the cover of night
to drag people away from their homes.40
36:21 Take heed, do not turn to evil,
for because of this you have been tested41 by affliction.
36:22 Indeed, God is exalted in his power;
who is a teacher42 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 extol43 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!44
The number of his years is unsearchable.
36:27 He draws up drops of water;
they distill45 the rain into its mist,46
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?47
36:30 See how he scattered48 his lightning49 about him;
he has covered the depths50 of the sea.
36:31 It is by these that he judges51 the nations
and supplies food in abundance.
36:32 With his hands52 he covers53 the lightning,
and directs it against its target.
36:3354 His thunder announces the coming storm,
the cattle also, concerning the storm’s approach.