36:1 Elihu also proceeded and said, |
36:2 "Bear with me a little, and I will show you that I have yet to speak on God's behalf. |
36:3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. |
36:4 For truly my words are not false; He who is perfect in knowledge is with you. |
36:5 Behold, God is mighty, yet He does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding. |
36:6 He will not preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the poor their right. |
36:7 He withdraws not His eyes from the righteous, but they are like kings on the throne; yea, He establishes them forever, and they are exalted. |
36:8 And if they are bound in chains, and are held in cords of affliction, |
36:9 Then He shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves arrogantly. |
36:10 He also opens their ears to discipline, and commands that they return from iniquity. |
36:11 If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. |
36:12 But if they do not obey, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. |
36:13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath; they cry not for help when He binds them. |
36:14 They die in youth, and their life ends among the depraved. |
36:15 He delivers the poor in his affliction, and opens their ears by tribulation. |
36:16 And He also would have removed you out of dire distress into a wide place without constraint; and the setting of your table is full with richness. |
36:17 But you have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked; judgment and justice take hold of you; |
36:18 For beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside. |
36:19 Will He esteem your riches? No, not gold, nor all the forces of strength can keep you from distress. |
36:20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. |
36:21 Beware, do not turn to iniquity; for this you have chosen rather than affliction. |
36:22 Behold, God is exalted in His power; who is a Teacher like Him? |
36:23 Who has appointed Him His way; or who can say, 'You have done wrong'? |
36:24 Remember that you should exalt His work of which men have sung; |
36:25 All men have seen it; man may see it afar off. |
36:26 Behold, God is great, beyond our knowledge; the number of His years cannot be searched out. |
36:27 For He draws up the drops of water; they distill into rain from the mist, |
36:28 Which the clouds pour down and drop on man abundantly. |
36:29 Also can any understand the spreading of the clouds, or the crashing thunder of His canopy? |
36:30 Behold, He spreads His light upon it, and He covers the depths of the sea. |
36:31 For by these He judges the people; He gives food in abundance. |
36:32 He covers His hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark; |
36:33 Its thunder declares concerning it, and the livestock, concerning a storm that is coming." |