Job 36

Elihu Speaks of God’s Dealings with Men

36ELIHU PROCEEDED and said,H453H3254H5592Bear with me {and} wait a little longer, and I will show you, for I have something still to say on God's behalf.H3803H2191H2331H4405H4333I will bring my knowledge from afar and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.H5375H1843H7350H5414H6664H64664For truly my words shall not be false; He Who is perfect in knowledge is with you.H551H4405H8267H8549H18445Behold! God is mighty, and yet despises no one nor regards anything as trivial; He is mighty in power of understanding {and} heart.H410H3524H3988H3524H3581H38206He does not prolong the life of the wicked, but gives the needy {and} afflicted their right.H2421H7563H5414H4941H60417He withdraws not His eyes from the righteous (the upright in right standing with God); but He sets them forever with kings upon the throne, and they are exalted.H1639H5869H6662H4428H3678H3427H5331H13618And if they are bound in fetters [of adversity] and held by cords of affliction,H631H2131H3920H2256H60409Then He shows to them [the true character of] their deeds and their transgressions, that they have acted arrogantly [with presumption and self-sufficiency].H5046H6467H6588H139610He also opens their ears to instruction {and} discipline, and commands that they return from iniquity.H1540H241H4148H559H7725H20511If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness {and} joy.H8085H5647H3615H3117H2896H8141H527312But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword [of God's destructive judgments], and they shall die in ignorance of true knowledge.H8085H5674H7973H1478H184713But the godless {and} profane in heart heap up anger [at the divine discipline]; they do not cry to Him when He binds them [with cords of affliction].H2611H3820H7760H639H7768H63114They die in youth, and their life perishes among the unclean (those who are sodomites).H5315H4191H5290H2416H694515He delivers the afflicted in their affliction and opens their ears [to His voice] in adversity.H2502H6041H6040H1540H241H390616Indeed, God would have allured you out of the mouth of distress into a broad place where there is no situation of perplexity {or} privation; and that which would be set on your table would be full of fatness.H5496H6310H6862H7338H8478H4164H5183H7979H4390H188017But if you [Job] are filled with the judgment of the wicked, judgment and justice will keep hold on you.H4390H1779H7563H1779H4941H855118For let not wrath entice you into scorning chastisements; and let not the greatness of the ransom [the suffering, if rightly endured] turn you aside.H2534H5496H5607H7230H3724H518619Will your cry be sufficient to keep you from distress, or will all the force of your strength do it?H6186H7769H1222H3981H358120Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off from their places;H7602H3915H5971H592721Take heed, turn not to iniquity, for this [the iniquity of complaining against God] you have chosen rather than [submission in] affliction.H8104H6437H205H977H604022Behold, God exalts {and} does loftily in His power; who is a ruler {or} a teacher like Him?H410H7682H3581H338423Who has appointed God His way? Or who can say, You have done unrighteousness?H6485H1870H559H6466H576624Remember that [by submission] you magnify God's work, of which men have sung.H2142H7679H6467H582H789125All men have looked upon God's work; man may behold it afar off.H120H2372H582H5027H735026Behold, God is great, and we know Him not! The number of His years is unsearchable.H410H7689H3045H4557H8141H271427For He draws up the drops of water, which distil as rain from His vapor,H1639H5198H4325H2212H4306H10828Which the skies pour down and drop abundantly upon [the multitudes of] mankind.H7834H5140H7491H120H722729Not only that, but can anyone understand the spreadings of the clouds {or} the thunderings of His pavilion?H995H4666H5645H8663H552130Behold, He spreads His lightning against the dark clouds and covers the roots of the sea.H6566H216H3680H8328H322031For by [His clouds] God executes judgment upon the peoples; He gives food in abundance.H1777H5971H5414H400H434232He covers His hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark.H3709H3680H216H6680H629333His thunderings speak [awesomely] concerning Him; the cattle are told of His coming storm.H7452H5046H4735H5927