Job 36

¹Elihu also proceeded, and said, ²Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet somewhat to say on God’s behalf. ³I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. ⁴For truly my words are not false: one that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. ⁵Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength of understanding. ⁶He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth to the afflicted theirright. ⁷He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings upon the throne he setteth them for ever, and they are exalted. ⁸And if they be bound in fetters, and be taken in the cords of affliction; ⁹Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly. ¹⁰He openeth also their ear to instruction, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. ¹¹If they hearken and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. ¹²But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. ¹³But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: they cry not for help when he bindeth them. ¹⁴They die in youth, and their life perishethamong the unclean. ¹⁵He delivereth the afflicted by his affliction, and openeth their ear in oppression. ¹⁶Yea, he would have led thee away out of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which is set on thy table should be full of fatness. ¹⁷But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. ¹⁸Because there is wrath, beware lest thou be led away by thysufficiency; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside. ¹⁹Will thy riches suffice, that thou benot in distress, or all the forces of thystrength? ²⁰Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off in their place. ²¹Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. ²²Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: who is a teacher like unto him? ²³Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness? ²⁴Remember that thou magnify his work, whereof men have sung. ²⁵All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off. ²⁶Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable. ²⁷For he draweth up the drops of water, which distil in rain from his vapour: ²⁸Which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly. ²⁹Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion? ³⁰Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; and he covereth the bottom of the sea. ³¹For by these he judgeth the peoples; he giveth meat in abundance. ³²He covereth his hands with the lightning; and giveth it a charge that it strike the mark. ³³The noise thereof telleth concerning him, the cattle also concerning the stormthat cometh up.