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36 Elihu also proceeded, and said,

Bear with me a little, and I will show thee that I have yet to speak on behalf of Eloah.

I will get my da’as from afar, and will ascribe tzedek to my Maker.

For truly my words shall not be sheker; one that is tamim (complete) in da’as is among thee.

See, El is kabir (mighty), and despiseth not any; He is kabir in ko’ach lev (strength of understanding).

He preserveth not the life of the rasha, but giveth mishpat to the aniyim.

He withdraweth not His eyes from the tzaddik, but with melachim are they on the kisse; yea, He doth establish them lanetzach (forever), and they are exalted.

And if they be bound in chains, and be held fast in chevlei oni (cords of affliction),

Then He showeth them their work, and their peysha’im that they have done arrogantly.

10 He openeth also their ozen to musar (discipline), and commandeth that they make teshuvah and turn from evil.

11 If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their yamim in tov (prosperity), and their shanim in contentment.

12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without da’as.

13 But the chanefei lev (irreligious in heart, hypocrites) incur wrath; they do not cry for help when He bindeth them.

14 They die in youth, their nefesh among the kedeshim (cult male prostitutes, youthful lusts).

15 He delivereth the oni in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.

16 Even so would He have removed thee out of the tzar (distress) into a rachav (broad place), free from restriction, to the comfort of thy shulchan, full of choice food.

17 But thou hast been fixated on the din of the rasha; din and mishpat take hold on thee.

18 Because there is chemah, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke; then a rav kopher (great ransom) cannot deliver thee.

19 Will He esteem thy riches? No, not zahav, nor all the forces of ko’ach.

20 Desire not halailah (the night), when people are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed, regard not iniquity; for this hast thou chosen rather than oni.

22 See, El exalted by His ko’ach. Who is a moreh (teacher) like Him?

23 Who hath enjoined Him His derech? Or who can say, Thou hast done wrong?

24 Remember that thou must extol His work, of which anashim have sung praises.

25 Kol adam has seen it; enosh beholds it afar off.

26 See, El is great, and we know Him not, neither can the mispar of His shanim be searched out.

27 For He draws up the drops of mayim; He distills His mist as matar;

28 Which the clouds do drop and distill upon adam abundantly.

29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the thunderings of His sukkah?

30 See, He spreadeth His ohr upon it, and covereth the depths of the yam.

31 For by them governeth He the amim (nations); He giveth okhel in abundance.

32 His hands He covers with the ohr (lightning), and commandeth it to strike the mark.

33 The thunder thereof showeth concerning Him; the storm tells His indignant af (wrath).

36 Elihu continued:

“Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
    that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
I get my knowledge from afar;(A)
    I will ascribe justice to my Maker.(B)
Be assured that my words are not false;(C)
    one who has perfect knowledge(D) is with you.(E)

“God is mighty,(F) but despises no one;(G)
    he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.(H)
He does not keep the wicked alive(I)
    but gives the afflicted their rights.(J)
He does not take his eyes off the righteous;(K)
    he enthrones them with kings(L)
    and exalts them forever.(M)
But if people are bound in chains,(N)
    held fast by cords of affliction,(O)
he tells them what they have done—
    that they have sinned arrogantly.(P)
10 He makes them listen(Q) to correction(R)
    and commands them to repent of their evil.(S)
11 If they obey and serve him,(T)
    they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity(U)
    and their years in contentment.(V)
12 But if they do not listen,
    they will perish by the sword[a](W)
    and die without knowledge.(X)

13 “The godless in heart(Y) harbor resentment;(Z)
    even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.(AA)
14 They die in their youth,(AB)
    among male prostitutes of the shrines.(AC)
15 But those who suffer(AD) he delivers in their suffering;(AE)
    he speaks(AF) to them in their affliction.(AG)

16 “He is wooing(AH) you from the jaws of distress
    to a spacious place(AI) free from restriction,(AJ)
    to the comfort of your table(AK) laden with choice food.(AL)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;(AM)
    judgment and justice have taken hold of you.(AN)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
    do not let a large bribe(AO) turn you aside.(AP)
19 Would your wealth(AQ) or even all your mighty efforts
    sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20 Do not long for the night,(AR)
    to drag people away from their homes.[b]
21 Beware of turning to evil,(AS)
    which you seem to prefer to affliction.(AT)

22 “God is exalted in his power.(AU)
    Who is a teacher like him?(AV)
23 Who has prescribed his ways(AW) for him,(AX)
    or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?(AY)
24 Remember to extol his work,(AZ)
    which people have praised in song.(BA)
25 All humanity has seen it;(BB)
    mortals gaze on it from afar.
26 How great is God—beyond our understanding!(BC)
    The number of his years is past finding out.(BD)

27 “He draws up the drops of water,(BE)
    which distill as rain to the streams[c];(BF)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
    and abundant showers(BG) fall on mankind.(BH)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
    how he thunders(BI) from his pavilion?(BJ)
30 See how he scatters his lightning(BK) about him,
    bathing the depths of the sea.(BL)
31 This is the way he governs[d] the nations(BM)
    and provides food(BN) in abundance.(BO)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
    and commands it to strike its mark.(BP)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;(BQ)
    even the cattle make known its approach.[e](BR)

Footnotes

  1. Job 36:12 Or will cross the river
  2. Job 36:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.
  3. Job 36:27 Or distill from the mist as rain
  4. Job 36:31 Or nourishes
  5. Job 36:33 Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil