36:1 Then Elihu continued and said,
36:2 “Wait for me a little, and I will show you
That there ①is still more to be said on God’s behalf.
▷ ①Lit are yet words for God
36:3 I will bring my knowledge from afar,
And ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
36:4 For truly my words are not false;
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
36:5 Behold, God is mighty but does not reject anyone;
He is mighty in strength of understanding.
36:6 He does not keep the wicked alive,
But gives justice to the afflicted.
36:7 He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous,
But with kings on the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
36:8 And if they are bound in shackles,
And are caught in the snares of misery,
36:9 Then He declares to them their work
And their wrongdoings, that they have been arrogant.
36:10 He opens their ears to instruction,
And commands that they return from injustice.
36:11 If they listen and serve Him,
They will end their days in prosperity,
And their years in happiness.
36:12 But if they do not listen, they will ①perish by the sword,
And die without knowledge.
▷ ①Lit pass away
36:13 But the godless in heart nurture anger;
They do not call for help when He binds them.
36:14 ①They die in youth,
And their life perishes among the cult prostitutes.
▷ ①Lit Their soul dies
36:15 He rescues the afflicted in ①their misery,
And opens their ears in time of oppression.
▷ ①Lit his
36:16 Then 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 ①rich food.
▷ ①Or fatness
36:17 “But you were full of judgment on the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
36:18 Beware that wrath does not entice you to mockery;
And do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.
36:19 Will your cry for help keep you from distress,
Or all the exertions of your strength?
36:20 Do not long for the night,
When people ①vanish in their places.
▷ ①Lit go up
36:21 Be careful, do not turn to evil,
For you preferred this to misery.
36:22 Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a teacher like Him?
36:23 Who has appointed Him His way,
And who has said, ‘You have done wrong’?
36:24 “Remember that you are to exalt His work,
Of which people have sung.
36:25 All people have seen it;
Mankind looks at it from afar.
36:26 Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him;
The number of His years is unsearchable.
36:27 For He draws up the drops of water;
They distill rain from its ①celestial stream,
▷ ①Or mist
36:28 Which clouds pour down;
They drip upon mankind abundantly.
36:29 Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds,
The thundering of His ①pavilion?
▷ ①Lit booth
36:30 Behold, He spreads His ①lightning about Him,
And He covers the depths of the sea.
▷ ①Lit light
36:31 For by them He judges peoples;
He gives food in abundance.
36:32 He covers His hands with the ①lightning,
And commands it to strike the target.
▷ ①Lit light
36:33 Its thundering voice declares ①His presence;
The livestock also, concerning what is coming up.
▷ ①Lit concerning Him