Job 35:1–36:33
35 And Elihu answered and said:
2 “Do you think this to be just?
Do you say, v‘It is my right before God,’
3 that you ask, w‘What advantage have I?
How am I better off than if I had sinned?’
and xyour friends with you.
5 yLook at the heavens, and see;
and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.
6 If you have sinned, zwhat do you accomplish against him?
And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
7 aIf you are righteous, what do you give to him?
Or what does he receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself,
and your righteousness ba son of man.
9 “Because of the multitude of coppressions people dcry out;
they call for help because of the arm of ethe mighty.1
10 But none says, ‘Where is God my fMaker,
who gives gsongs in the night,
11 who teaches us hmore than the beasts of the earth
and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’
12 There they icry out, but he does not answer,
because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God does not hear an empty cry,
nor does the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when you say that you jdo not see him,
that the case is before him, and you are kwaiting for him!
15 And now, because lhis anger does not punish,
and he does not take much note of transgression,2
16 Job opens his mouth in empty talk;
he mmultiplies words nwithout knowledge.”
36 And Elihu continued, and said:
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you,
for I have yet something to say on God’s behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from oafar
and ascribe prighteousness to my qMaker.
4 For truly my words are not false;
one who is rperfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, and sdoes not despise any;
he is tmighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive,
but gives uthe afflicted their right.
7 He does not withdraw his veyes from the righteous,
but with wkings on the throne
he sets them forever, and they are xexalted.
8 And if they are ybound in chains
and caught in the cords of affliction,
9 then he declares to them their work
and their transgressions, that they are zbehaving arrogantly.
10 He aopens their ears to instruction
and commands that they breturn from iniquity.
11 cIf they listen and serve him,
they dcomplete their days in prosperity,
and their years in pleasantness.
12 But if they do not listen, they eperish by the sword
and die fwithout knowledge.
13 “The ggodless in heart cherish anger;
they do not cry for help when he hbinds them.
14 They idie in youth,
and their life ends among the cult prostitutes.
15 He delivers jthe afflicted by their affliction
and kopens their ear by adversity.
16 He also allured you out of distress
into la broad place where there was no cramping,
and what was set on your mtable was full of nfatness.
17 “But you are full of the judgment on the wicked;
judgment and justice seize you.
18 Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing,
and let not the greatness of othe ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your pcry for help avail to keep you from distress,
or all the force of your strength?
20 Do not long for qthe night,
when peoples vanish rin their place.
21 Take care; sdo not turn to iniquity,
for this you have chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power;
who is ta teacher like him?
23 Who has uprescribed for him his way,
or who can say, v‘You have done wrong’?
24 “Remember to wextol his work,
of which men have xsung.
25 All mankind has looked on it;
man beholds it from afar.
26 Behold, God is great, and we yknow him not;
the number of his zyears is unsearchable.
27 For he draws up the drops of water;
they distill his amist in brain,
28 which cthe skies pour down
and drop on mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand dthe spreading of the clouds,
the thunderings of his epavilion?
30 Behold, he scatters his lightning about him
and covers the roots of the sea.
31 For by these he fjudges peoples;
he gives gfood in abundance.
32 He covers his hhands with the lightning
and commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its crashing declares his presence;1
the cattle also declare that he rises.