Chapter 36

  Elihu also proceeded, and said,  

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  Suffer me a little, and I will show thee; For I have yet somewhat to say on God's behalf.  

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  I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.  

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  For truly my words are not false: One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.  

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  Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength of understanding.  

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  He preserveth not the life of the wicked, But giveth to the afflicted [their] right.  

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  He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.  

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  And if they be bound in fetters, And be taken in the cords of afflictions;  

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  Then he showeth them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.  

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  He openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth that they return from iniquity.  

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  If they hearken and serve [him], They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.  

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  But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.  

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  But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: They cry not for help when he bindeth them.  

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  They die in youth, And their life [perisheth] among the unclean.  

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  He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression.  

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  Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness.  

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  But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold [on thee].  

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  For let not wrath stir thee up against chastisements; Neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.  

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  Will thy cry avail, [that thou be] not in distress, Or all the forces of [thy] strength?  

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  Desire not the night, When peoples are cut off in their place.  

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  Take heed, regard not iniquity: For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.  

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  Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: Who is a teacher like unto him?  

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  Who hath enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?  

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  Remember that thou magnify his work, Whereof men have sung.  

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  All men have looked thereon; Man beholdeth it afar off.  

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  Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable.  

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  For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from his vapor,  

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  Which the skies pour down And drop upon man abundantly.  

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  Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion?  

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  Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea.  

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  For by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.  

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  He covereth his hands with the lightning, And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.  

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  The noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerning [the storm] that cometh up.  

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