36:1 Elihu continued:
36:2 Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.
36:3 I get my knowledge from afar I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
36:4 Be assured that my words are not false one perfect in knowledge is with you.
36:5 God is mighty, but does not despise men he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.
36:6 He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights.
36:7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous he enthrones them with kings and exalts them for ever.
36:8 But if men are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction,
36:9 he tells them what they have done that they have sinned arrogantly.
36:10 He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.
36:11 If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.
36:12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword [Or will cross the River] and die without knowledge.
36:13 The godless in heart harbour resentment even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.
36:14 They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines.
36:15 But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering he speaks to them in their affliction.
36:16 He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.
36:17 But now you are laden with the judgment due to the wicked judgment and justice have taken hold of you.
36:18 Be careful that no-one entices you by riches do not let a large bribe turn you aside.
36:19 Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?
36:20 Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes. [The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.]
36:21 Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.
36:22 God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
36:23 Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, `You have done wrong’?
36:24 Remember to extol his work, which men have praised in song.
36:25 All mankind has seen it men gaze on it from afar.
36:26 How great is God beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.
36:27 He draws up the drops of water, which distil as rain to the streams [Or distil from the mist as rain]
36:28 the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.
36:29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?
36:30 See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.
36:31 This is the way he governs [Or nourishes] the nations and provides food in abundance.
36:32 He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
36:33 His thunder announces the coming storm even the cattle make known its approach. [Or announces his coming the One zealous against evil]