Elihu Sharply Rebukes Job

35 Then Elihu continued and said,

“Do you think this is in accordance with (A)justice?
Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
For you say, ‘(B)What advantage will it be to [a]You?
(C)What benefit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’
I will answer you,
And your friends with you.
(D)Look at the heavens and see;
And look at (E)the clouds—they are higher than you.
If you have sinned, (F)what do you accomplish against Him?
And if your wrongdoings are many, what do you do to Him?
If you are righteous, (G)what do you give to Him,
Or what does He receive from your hand?
Your wickedness is for a man like yourself,
And your righteousness is for a son of man.

“Because of the (H)multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry for help because of the arm (I)of the mighty.
10 But (J)no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who (K)gives songs in the night,
11 Who (L)teaches us more than the animals of the earth
And makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’
12 There (M)they cry out, but He does not answer
Because of the pride of evil people.
13 (N)God certainly will not listen to [b]an empty cry,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when (O)you say you do not look at Him,
The (P)case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!
15 And now, because He has not avenged His anger,
Nor has He acknowledged [c]wrongdoing well,
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty words;
He multiplies words (Q)without knowledge.”

Elihu Speaks of God’s Dealings with Mankind

36 Then Elihu continued and said,

“Wait for me a little, and I will show you
That there [d]is still more to be said on God’s behalf.
I will bring my knowledge from afar,
And ascribe (R)righteousness to my Maker.
For truly (S)my words are not false;
One who is (T)perfect in knowledge is with you.
Behold, God is mighty but does not (U)reject anyone;
He is (V)mighty in strength of understanding.
He does not (W)keep the wicked alive,
But gives justice to (X)the afflicted.
He does not (Y)withdraw His eyes from the righteous,
But (Z)with kings on the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
And if they are bound in shackles,
And are caught in the snares of (AA)misery,
Then He declares to them their work
And their wrongdoings, that they have (AB)been arrogant.
10 (AC)He opens their ears to instruction,
And (AD)commands that they return from injustice.
11 If they listen and serve Him,
They will (AE)end their days in prosperity,
And their years in (AF)happiness.
12 But if they do not listen, they will [e]perish (AG)by the sword,
And (AH)die without knowledge.
13 But the godless in heart nurture anger;
They do not call for help when He binds them.
14 [f]They die in youth,
And their life perishes among the (AI)cult prostitutes.
15 He rescues the afflicted in [g]their (AJ)misery,
And (AK)opens their ears in time of oppression.
16 Then indeed, He induced you away from the mouth of distress,
And instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
And your table was full of [h]rich food.

17 “But you were full of (AL)judgment on the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Beware that (AM)wrath does not entice you to mockery;
And do not let the greatness of the (AN)ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your cry for help keep you from distress,
Or all the exertions of your strength?
20 Do not long for (AO)the night,
When people [i]vanish in their places.
21 Be careful, do (AP)not turn to evil,
For you preferred this to (AQ)misery.
22 Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a (AR)teacher like Him?
23 Who has appointed Him His way,
And who has said, ‘(AS)You have done wrong’?

24 “Remember that you are to (AT)exalt His work,
Of which people have (AU)sung.
25 All people have seen it;
Mankind looks at it from afar.
26 Behold, God is (AV)exalted, and (AW)we do not know Him;
The (AX)number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For (AY)He draws up the drops of water;
They distill rain from its [j]celestial stream,
28 Which clouds pour down;
They drip upon mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand the (AZ)spreading of the clouds,
The (BA)thundering of His [k]pavilion?
30 Behold, He spreads His [l]lightning about Him,
And He covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by them He (BB)judges peoples;
He (BC)gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with the [m]lightning,
And (BD)commands it to strike the target.
33 Its (BE)thundering voice declares [n]His presence;
The livestock also, concerning what is coming up.

Elihu Says God Has Authority Over the Storm

37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
Listen closely to the (BF)thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.
Under the whole heaven He lets it loose,
And His [o]lightning travels to the (BG)ends of the earth.
After it, a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain [p]the lightning when His voice is heard.
God (BH)thunders wondrously with His voice,
Doing (BI)great things which we do not comprehend.
For to (BJ)the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
And to the [q](BK)downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’
He (BL)seals the hand of every person,
So that (BM)all people may know His work.
Then the animal goes into its (BN)lair
And remains in its [r]den.
From the [s](BO)south comes the storm,
And from the north wind the cold.
10 From the breath of God (BP)ice is made,
And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
11 He also (BQ)loads the clouds with moisture;
He (BR)disperses (BS)the cloud of His [t]lightning.
12 It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
That [u]it may do whatever He (BT)commands [v]it
On the (BU)face of the inhabited earth.
13 Whether for [w](BV)correction, or for (BW)His earth,
Or for (BX)goodness, He causes it to [x]happen.

14 “Listen to this, Job;
Stand and consider the wonders of God.
15 Do you know how God establishes them,
And makes the [y]lightning of His clouds to shine?
16 Do you know about the hovering of the clouds,
The (BY)wonders of One who is (BZ)perfect in knowledge,
17 You whose garments are hot
When the land is still because of the south wind?
18 Can you, with Him, (CA)spread out the skies,
Strong as a cast metal mirror?
19 Teach us what we are to say to Him;
We (CB)cannot present our case because of darkness.
20 Shall it be told Him that I would speak?
[z]Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?

21 “Now people do not see the light which is bright in the skies;
But the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 From the north comes golden splendor;
Around God is awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty—(CC)we cannot find Him;
He is (CD)exalted in power
And (CE)He will not violate (CF)justice and abundant righteousness.
24 Therefore people (CG)fear Him;
He does not (CH)regard any who are wise of heart.”

God Speaks Now to Job

38 Then the Lord (CI)answered Job from the whirlwind and said,

“Who is this who (CJ)darkens the divine plan
By words without knowledge?
Now [aa](CK)tighten the belt on your waist like a man,
And (CL)I shall ask you, and you inform Me!
Where were you (CM)when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you [ab]have understanding,
Who set its (CN)measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the measuring line over it?
On what (CO)were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
When the morning stars sang together
And all the (CP)sons of God shouted for joy?

“Or who (CQ)enclosed the sea with doors
When it went out from the womb, bursting forth;
When I made a cloud its garment,
And thick darkness its swaddling bands,
10 And I [ac](CR)placed boundaries on it
And set a bolt and doors,
11 And I said, ‘As far as this point you shall come, but no farther;
And here your proud waves shall stop’?

God’s Mighty Power

12 “Have you [ad]ever in your life commanded the morning,
And made the dawn know its place,
13 So that it would take hold of (CS)the ends of the earth,
And (CT)the wicked would be shaken off from it?
14 It is changed like clay under the seal;
And they stand out like a garment.
15 (CU)Their light is withheld from the wicked,
And the (CV)uplifted arm is broken.

16 “Have you entered (CW)the springs of the sea,
And walked [ae]in the depth of the ocean?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
And have you seen the gates of (CX)deep darkness?
18 Have you understood the [af]expanse of (CY)the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all this.

19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light?
And darkness, where is its place,
20 That you would take it to (CZ)its territory,
And discern the paths to its [ag]home?
21 You know, for (DA)you were born then,
And the number of your days is great!
22 Have you entered the storehouses (DB)of the snow,
And have you seen the storehouses of the (DC)hail,
23 Which I have reserved for a time of distress,
For a day of war and battle?
24 Where is the way that (DD)the light is divided,
And the east wind scattered on the earth?

25 “Who has split open a channel for the flood,
And a way for the thunderbolt,
26 To bring (DE)rain on a land without [ah]people,
On a desert without a person in it,
27 To (DF)satisfy the waste and desolate land,
And to make the [ai]seeds of grass to sprout?
28 Does (DG)the rain have a father?
Or who has fathered the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb has come the (DH)ice?
And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?
30 Water [aj]becomes hard like stone,
And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.

31 “Can you tie up the chains of the (DI)Pleiades,
Or untie the cords of Orion?
32 Can you bring out a [ak]constellation in its season,
And guide the Bear with her [al]satellites?
33 Do you know the (DJ)ordinances of the heavens,
Or do you establish their rule over the earth?

34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds,
So that an (DK)abundance of water will cover you?
35 Can you (DL)send flashes of lightning, so that they may go
And say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who has (DM)put wisdom in the innermost being,
Or given (DN)understanding to the [am]mind?
37 Who can count the clouds by wisdom,
And (DO)pour out the water jars of the heavens,
38 When the dust hardens into a mass
And the clods stick together?

39 “Can you hunt the (DP)prey for the lioness,
Or satisfy the appetite of young lions,
40 When they (DQ)crouch in their hiding places,
And lie in wait in their lair?
41 Who prepares [an]feed for (DR)the raven
When its young cry to God,
And wander about without food?

Footnotes

  1. Job 35:3 Or me
  2. Job 35:13 Or falsehood
  3. Job 35:15 Or arrogance
  4. Job 36:2 Lit are yet words for God
  5. Job 36:12 Lit pass away
  6. Job 36:14 Lit Their soul dies
  7. Job 36:15 Lit his
  8. Job 36:16 Or fatness
  9. Job 36:20 Lit go up
  10. Job 36:27 Or mist
  11. Job 36:29 Lit booth
  12. Job 36:30 Lit light
  13. Job 36:32 Lit light
  14. Job 36:33 Lit concerning Him
  15. Job 37:3 Lit light
  16. Job 37:4 Lit them
  17. Job 37:6 Lit shower of rain and shower of rains
  18. Job 37:8 Lit dens
  19. Job 37:9 Lit chamber
  20. Job 37:11 Lit light
  21. Job 37:12 Lit they
  22. Job 37:12 Lit them
  23. Job 37:13 Lit the rod
  24. Job 37:13 Lit be found
  25. Job 37:15 Lit light
  26. Job 37:20 Or If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up
  27. Job 38:3 I.e., as if for battle
  28. Job 38:4 Lit know understanding
  29. Job 38:10 Lit broke My decree on it
  30. Job 38:12 Lit from your days commanded
  31. Job 38:16 Or in search of the deep
  32. Job 38:18 Or width
  33. Job 38:20 Lit house
  34. Job 38:26 Lit man
  35. Job 38:27 Or growth
  36. Job 38:30 Lit hides itself like
  37. Job 38:32 Heb Mazzaroth
  38. Job 38:32 Lit sons
  39. Job 38:36 Or rooster
  40. Job 38:41 Lit its feed

35 Then Elihu said:

“Do you think this is just?
    You say, ‘I am in the right,(A) not God.’(B)
Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,[a]
    and what do I gain by not sinning?’(C)

“I would like to reply to you
    and to your friends with you.
Look up at the heavens(D) and see;
    gaze at the clouds so high above you.(E)
If you sin, how does that affect him?
    If your sins are many, what does that do to him?(F)
If you are righteous, what do you give to him,(G)
    or what does he receive(H) from your hand?(I)
Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,(J)
    and your righteousness only other people.(K)

“People cry out(L) under a load of oppression;(M)
    they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.(N)
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,(O)
    who gives songs(P) in the night,(Q)
11 who teaches(R) us(S) more than he teaches[b] the beasts of the earth
    and makes us wiser than[c] the birds in the sky?’
12 He does not answer(T) when people cry out
    because of the arrogance(U) of the wicked.(V)
13 Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;
    the Almighty pays no attention to it.(W)
14 How much less, then, will he listen
    when you say that you do not see him,(X)
that your case(Y) is before him
    and you must wait for him,(Z)
15 and further, that his anger never punishes(AA)
    and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.[d](AB)
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;(AC)
    without knowledge he multiplies words.”(AD)

36 Elihu continued:

“Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
    that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
I get my knowledge from afar;(AE)
    I will ascribe justice to my Maker.(AF)
Be assured that my words are not false;(AG)
    one who has perfect knowledge(AH) is with you.(AI)

“God is mighty,(AJ) but despises no one;(AK)
    he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.(AL)
He does not keep the wicked alive(AM)
    but gives the afflicted their rights.(AN)
He does not take his eyes off the righteous;(AO)
    he enthrones them with kings(AP)
    and exalts them forever.(AQ)
But if people are bound in chains,(AR)
    held fast by cords of affliction,(AS)
he tells them what they have done—
    that they have sinned arrogantly.(AT)
10 He makes them listen(AU) to correction(AV)
    and commands them to repent of their evil.(AW)
11 If they obey and serve him,(AX)
    they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity(AY)
    and their years in contentment.(AZ)
12 But if they do not listen,
    they will perish by the sword[e](BA)
    and die without knowledge.(BB)

13 “The godless in heart(BC) harbor resentment;(BD)
    even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.(BE)
14 They die in their youth,(BF)
    among male prostitutes of the shrines.(BG)
15 But those who suffer(BH) he delivers in their suffering;(BI)
    he speaks(BJ) to them in their affliction.(BK)

16 “He is wooing(BL) you from the jaws of distress
    to a spacious place(BM) free from restriction,(BN)
    to the comfort of your table(BO) laden with choice food.(BP)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;(BQ)
    judgment and justice have taken hold of you.(BR)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
    do not let a large bribe(BS) turn you aside.(BT)
19 Would your wealth(BU) or even all your mighty efforts
    sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20 Do not long for the night,(BV)
    to drag people away from their homes.[f]
21 Beware of turning to evil,(BW)
    which you seem to prefer to affliction.(BX)

22 “God is exalted in his power.(BY)
    Who is a teacher like him?(BZ)
23 Who has prescribed his ways(CA) for him,(CB)
    or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?(CC)
24 Remember to extol his work,(CD)
    which people have praised in song.(CE)
25 All humanity has seen it;(CF)
    mortals gaze on it from afar.
26 How great is God—beyond our understanding!(CG)
    The number of his years is past finding out.(CH)

27 “He draws up the drops of water,(CI)
    which distill as rain to the streams[g];(CJ)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
    and abundant showers(CK) fall on mankind.(CL)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
    how he thunders(CM) from his pavilion?(CN)
30 See how he scatters his lightning(CO) about him,
    bathing the depths of the sea.(CP)
31 This is the way he governs[h] the nations(CQ)
    and provides food(CR) in abundance.(CS)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
    and commands it to strike its mark.(CT)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;(CU)
    even the cattle make known its approach.[i](CV)

37 “At this my heart pounds(CW)
    and leaps from its place.
Listen!(CX) Listen to the roar of his voice,(CY)
    to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.(CZ)
He unleashes his lightning(DA) beneath the whole heaven
    and sends it to the ends of the earth.(DB)
After that comes the sound of his roar;
    he thunders(DC) with his majestic voice.(DD)
When his voice resounds,
    he holds nothing back.
God’s voice thunders(DE) in marvelous ways;(DF)
    he does great things beyond our understanding.(DG)
He says to the snow,(DH) ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’(DI)
So that everyone he has made may know his work,(DJ)
    he stops all people from their labor.[j](DK)
The animals take cover;(DL)
    they remain in their dens.(DM)
The tempest comes out from its chamber,(DN)
    the cold from the driving winds.(DO)
10 The breath of God produces ice,
    and the broad waters become frozen.(DP)
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;(DQ)
    he scatters his lightning(DR) through them.(DS)
12 At his direction they swirl around
    over the face of the whole earth
    to do whatever he commands them.(DT)
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,(DU)
    or to water his earth and show his love.(DV)

14 “Listen(DW) to this, Job;
    stop and consider God’s wonders.(DX)
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
    and makes his lightning(DY) flash?(DZ)
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,(EA)
    those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?(EB)
17 You who swelter in your clothes
    when the land lies hushed under the south wind,(EC)
18 can you join him in spreading out the skies,(ED)
    hard as a mirror of cast bronze?(EE)

19 “Tell us what we should say to him;(EF)
    we cannot draw up our case(EG) because of our darkness.(EH)
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
    Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21 Now no one can look at the sun,(EI)
    bright as it is in the skies
    after the wind has swept them clean.
22 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;(EJ)
    God comes in awesome majesty.(EK)
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;(EL)
    in his justice(EM) and great righteousness, he does not oppress.(EN)
24 Therefore, people revere him,(EO)
    for does he not have regard for all the wise(EP) in heart?[k]

The Lord Speaks

38 Then the Lord spoke to Job(EQ) out of the storm.(ER) He said:

“Who is this that obscures my plans(ES)
    with words without knowledge?(ET)
Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.(EU)

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?(EV)
    Tell me, if you understand.(EW)
Who marked off its dimensions?(EX) Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line(EY) across it?
On what were its footings set,(EZ)
    or who laid its cornerstone(FA)
while the morning stars(FB) sang together(FC)
    and all the angels[l](FD) shouted for joy?(FE)

“Who shut up the sea behind doors(FF)
    when it burst forth from the womb,(FG)
when I made the clouds its garment
    and wrapped it in thick darkness,(FH)
10 when I fixed limits for it(FI)
    and set its doors and bars in place,(FJ)
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;(FK)
    here is where your proud waves halt’?(FL)

12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning,(FM)
    or shown the dawn its place,(FN)
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
    and shake the wicked(FO) out of it?(FP)
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;(FQ)
    its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light,(FR)
    and their upraised arm is broken.(FS)

16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?(FT)
17 Have the gates of death(FU) been shown to you?
    Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?(FV)
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?(FW)
    Tell me, if you know all this.(FX)

19 “What is the way to the abode of light?
    And where does darkness reside?(FY)
20 Can you take them to their places?
    Do you know the paths(FZ) to their dwellings?
21 Surely you know, for you were already born!(GA)
    You have lived so many years!

22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow(GB)
    or seen the storehouses(GC) of the hail,(GD)
23 which I reserve for times of trouble,(GE)
    for days of war and battle?(GF)
24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,(GG)
    or the place where the east winds(GH) are scattered over the earth?(GI)
25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
    and a path for the thunderstorm,(GJ)
26 to water(GK) a land where no one lives,
    an uninhabited desert,(GL)
27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland
    and make it sprout with grass?(GM)
28 Does the rain have a father?(GN)
    Who fathers the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
    Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens(GO)
30 when the waters become hard as stone,
    when the surface of the deep is frozen?(GP)

31 “Can you bind the chains[m] of the Pleiades?
    Can you loosen Orion’s belt?(GQ)
32 Can you bring forth the constellations(GR) in their seasons[n]
    or lead out the Bear[o] with its cubs?(GS)
33 Do you know the laws(GT) of the heavens?(GU)
    Can you set up God’s[p] dominion over the earth?

34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds
    and cover yourself with a flood of water?(GV)
35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?(GW)
    Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who gives the ibis wisdom[q](GX)
    or gives the rooster understanding?[r](GY)
37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
    Who can tip over the water jars(GZ) of the heavens(HA)
38 when the dust becomes hard(HB)
    and the clods of earth stick together?(HC)

39 “Do you hunt the prey for the lioness
    and satisfy the hunger of the lions(HD)
40 when they crouch in their dens(HE)
    or lie in wait in a thicket?(HF)
41 Who provides food(HG) for the raven(HH)
    when its young cry out to God
    and wander about for lack of food?(HI)

Footnotes

  1. Job 35:3 Or you
  2. Job 35:11 Or night, / 11 who teaches us by
  3. Job 35:11 Or us wise by
  4. Job 35:15 Symmachus, Theodotion and Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  5. Job 36:12 Or will cross the river
  6. Job 36:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.
  7. Job 36:27 Or distill from the mist as rain
  8. Job 36:31 Or nourishes
  9. Job 36:33 Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil
  10. Job 37:7 Or work, / he fills all people with fear by his power
  11. Job 37:24 Or for he does not have regard for any who think they are wise.
  12. Job 38:7 Hebrew the sons of God
  13. Job 38:31 Septuagint; Hebrew beauty
  14. Job 38:32 Or the morning star in its season
  15. Job 38:32 Or out Leo
  16. Job 38:33 Or their
  17. Job 38:36 That is, wisdom about the flooding of the Nile
  18. Job 38:36 That is, understanding of when to crow; the meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.

35 Elihu spake moreover, and said,

Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?

For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.

Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.

If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?

Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.

10 But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.

13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.

15 But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:

16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

36 Elihu also proceeded, and said,

Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.

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

For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.

He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;

Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.

16 Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.

18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

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

22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.

33 The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

37 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.

God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:

12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.

13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?

16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?

36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.