Job 36 — The Holy Bible

Elihu Upholds God's Goodness

Job 36, verse 1. Elihu also proceeded and said:

‘Wait for me yet a little while, that I may teach you,

For there is yet more for me to say.

I will gather my knowledge from afar

And truly speak of righteousness in my works.

You were not hearing unjust words without good reason.

“But know that the Lord who is mighty in strength of heart

Does not cast off an innocent man.

He will not give life to the ungodly,

But He will give judgment to the poor.

He will not turn away from the righteous,

But will seat them on the throne with kings;

For He will lift them in triumph, and they will be exalted.

But if they are bound in fetters,

They shall be held in the cords of poverty.

He will tell them their works and their transgressions,

For such will act with violence.

He also will hear the righteous,

And He said they will turn from wrongdoing.

If they give ear and serve Him,

They shall spend their days in good things

And their years in dignity.

But He does not save the ungodly,

Because they are not willing to know the Lord,

And because they refused to listen when they were admonished.

“For the hypocrites in heart will marshal anger against themselves,

And they will not cry for help, because He has bound them.

Therefore, may their soul die in youth,

And their life be wounded by messengers of death,

Because they afflicted the weak and helpless;

And He will make manifest the judgment of the gentle.

“Besides, He deceived you by the mouth of the enemy.

There is an abyss and a pouring over beneath it,

And your table descended full of fatness.

Judgment shall not fail from the righteous,

But there shall be anger against the ungodly

Because of the ungodliness of the gifts they received for wrongdoings.

Let not your heart willingly turn you aside

From the petition of the weak who are in distress.

Do not lure away all the mighty men at night

So the people should go up instead of them.

“But guard yourself, lest you do what is wrong,

For you chose this because of poverty.

Behold, the Mighty One shall prevail by His strength.

Who is so powerful as He?

Who is he who examines His works?

Or who can say, ‘He has done unjustly’?

God's Works Are Great

“Remember, His works are great,

Because of which men began to exist.

Everyone has seen for himself

How many mortals are wounded.

“Behold, the Mighty One is great,

And we do not know Him.

The number of His years is also endless.

For He numbers the drops of rain,

And they shall be poured out in rain to form a cloud.

The ancient clouds shall drop down

And overshadow innumerable mortals.

He has fixed a time for cattle,

And they know the appointed time for their rest.

Yet your mind is not astonished by these things,

Nor does your heart leap out from your body.

For one should perceive the outspreadings of a cloud

And the measure of His tabernacle.

Behold, He stretches His bow against him

And covers the bottom of the sea.

For by these He will judge the peoples.

He will give food to him who has strength.

He has hidden light in His hands

And given orders to the cloud by which it is diverted.

The Lord will proclaim it to His friend,

But there is also a portion for unrighteousness.