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Het antwoord van Elihu (vervolg)

36 Elihu ging verder:

Wacht nog even, ik ben nog niet klaar.
Ik heb je nog meer over God te zeggen.
Ik zal je alles vertellen wat ik weet
en voor mijn Maker opkomen.
Want ik praat geen onzin.
Hier staat een wijs man voor je!
Kijk, God is machtig, maar vindt niets onbelangrijk.
Er is niets wat Hij niet begrijpt.
Mensen die zich niets van Hem aantrekken,
laat Hij niet in leven.
Hij zorgt ervoor dat arme mensen krijgen waar ze recht op hebben.
Mensen die leven zoals Hij het wil,
laat Hij nooit in de steek.
Hij geeft hun een plaats bij de belangrijke mensen,
zodat iedereen altijd respect voor hen heeft.
Maar als ze helemaal vastzitten in de ellende,
en niet meer weten hoe ze daaruit los moeten komen,
dan laat Hij hun zien wat ze hebben gedaan.
Hij laat hun zien hoe slecht ze zijn geweest,
omdat ze dachten dat ze zich niets van Hem hoefden aan te trekken.
10 Hij waarschuwt hen
dat ze moeten ophouden met het doen van slechte dingen.
11 Als ze luisteren en Hem gehoorzamen,
gaat het de rest van hun leven weer goed met hen en zijn ze gelukkig.
12 Maar als ze niet luisteren maar onverstandig blijven, sterven ze.
Dan komt er een einde aan hun leven.
13 Maar slechte mensen roepen God niet om hulp als Hij hen straft.
Ze worden alleen maar steeds bozer op Hem.
14 Ze sterven als ze nog jong zijn,
na een kort leven vol dingen die God niet goed vindt.
15 Maar God probeert juist iemand te redden
door hem in moeilijkheden te brengen.
Hij wil dat hij juist door de moeilijkheden Hem weer gaat zoeken.
16 Zo probeert Hij ook jou uit de ellende te trekken.
Hij wil je naar de vrijheid brengen,
waar je weer veilig en in alle rust kan genieten
van de goede dingen van het leven.
17 Maar je hebt je straf helemaal verdiend, want je bent schuldig.
Wat jou nu overkomt, is de straf van God.
18 Zorg ervoor dat je in je boosheid nu niet met God gaat spotten.
Want dan zal God je van Hem wegstoten.
Dan zal niets je nog kunnen redden.
19 Had Hij je moeten ontzien omdat je zo rijk bent?
Had Hij je soms niets mogen doen vanwege je macht?
20 Verlang maar niet naar de dag
waarop iedereen geoordeeld zal worden.
21 Pas op, en stop met het doen van slechte dingen.
Want juist daardoor zit je nu in de ellende.

22 God doet wat Hij wil.
Wie is zo machtig als Hij?
23 Wie durft Hem te vertellen wat Hij moet doen?
Wie durft tegen Hem te zeggen dat Hij oneerlijk is geweest?
24 Vergeet niet Hem te prijzen
voor alles wat Hij doet.
25 Alle mensen zien wat Hij heeft gemaakt
en hebben ontzag voor Hem.
26 God is machtig en wij kunnen Hem niet begrijpen.
Ook kan niemand weten hoe oud Hij is.

27 Hij trekt waterdruppels omhoog,
zodat die later veranderen in regen.
28 Hij laat de regen uit de wolken vallen
zodat de mensen nat worden.
29 Wie kan begrijpen hoe de wolken zich opstapelen
en hoe de donder dreunt vanuit zijn huis?
30 Hij verspreidt de bliksem over de hemel
en Hij bedekt de diepten van de zee.
31 Door de krachten van de natuur zegent of straft Hij de volken.
Hij geeft hun eten in overvloed.
32 Hij bedekt het licht met beide handen.
Hij beveelt het om niet langer te schijnen en verbergt het met wolken.
33 Met de donder kondigt Hij een storm aan.
Het vee weet dat er storm op komst is. (lees verder)

36 Then Elihu continued, saying:

Be patient with me a little longer, and I will inform you,
for there is still more to be said on God’s behalf.
I will get my knowledge from a distant place
and ascribe justice to my Maker.
Indeed, my words are not false;
one who has complete knowledge is with you.

Yes, God is mighty, but he despises no one;
he understands all things.[a](A)
He does not keep the wicked alive,(B)
but he gives justice to the oppressed.
He does not withdraw his gaze from the righteous,
but he seats them for ever with enthroned kings,
and they are exalted.

If people are bound with chains
and trapped by the cords of affliction,
God tells them what they have done
and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
10 He opens their ears(C) to correction
and tells them to repent from iniquity.
11 If they listen and serve him,
they will end their days in prosperity
and their years in happiness.(D)
12 But if they do not listen,
they will cross the river of death[b]
and die without knowledge.(E)

13 Those who have a godless heart harbour anger;
even when God binds them, they do not cry for help.
14 They die in their youth;
their life ends among male cult prostitutes.(F)
15 God rescues the afflicted by their affliction;
he instructs them by their torment.

16 Indeed, he lured you from the jaws[c] of distress
to a spacious and unconfined place.
Your table was spread with choice food.
17 Yet now you are obsessed with the judgement due the wicked;
judgement and justice have seized you.
18 Be careful that no one lures you with riches;[d]
do not let a large ransom[e] lead you astray.(G)
19 Can your wealth[f] or all your physical exertion
keep you from distress?(H)
20 Do not long for the night
when nations will disappear from their places.
21 Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity,
for that is why you have been tested by[g] affliction.

22 Look, God shows himself exalted by his power.
Who is a teacher like him?
23 Who has appointed his way for him,
and who has declared, ‘You have done wrong’?(I)
24 Remember that you should praise his work,
which people have sung about.(J)
25 All mankind has seen it;
people have looked at it from a distance.(K)
26 Yes, God is exalted beyond our knowledge;(L)
the number of his years cannot be counted.(M)
27 For he makes waterdrops evaporate;[h]
they distil the rain into its[i] mist,(N)
28 which the clouds pour out
and shower abundantly on mankind.
29 Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out
or how the thunder roars from God’s pavilion?(O)
30 See how he spreads his lightning(P) around him
and covers the depths of the sea.
31 For he judges the nations with these;
he gives food in abundance.(Q)
32 He covers his hands with lightning
and commands it to hit its mark.
33 The[j] thunder declares his presence;[k]
the cattle also, the approaching storm.

Footnotes

  1. 36:5 Lit he is mighty in strength of heart
  2. 36:12 Or will perish by the sword
  3. 36:16 Lit from a mouth of narrowness
  4. 36:18 Or you into mockery
  5. 36:18 Or bribe
  6. 36:19 Or cry for help
  7. 36:21 Or for you have preferred this to
  8. 36:27 Lit he draws in waterdrops
  9. 36:27 Or his
  10. 36:33 Lit His, or Its
  11. 36:33 Lit thunder announces concerning him or it

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;(A)
    I will ascribe justice to my Maker.(B)
Be assured that my words are not false;(C)
    one who has perfect knowledge(D) is with you.(E)

“God is mighty,(F) but despises no one;(G)
    he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.(H)
He does not keep the wicked alive(I)
    but gives the afflicted their rights.(J)
He does not take his eyes off the righteous;(K)
    he enthrones them with kings(L)
    and exalts them forever.(M)
But if people are bound in chains,(N)
    held fast by cords of affliction,(O)
he tells them what they have done—
    that they have sinned arrogantly.(P)
10 He makes them listen(Q) to correction(R)
    and commands them to repent of their evil.(S)
11 If they obey and serve him,(T)
    they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity(U)
    and their years in contentment.(V)
12 But if they do not listen,
    they will perish by the sword[a](W)
    and die without knowledge.(X)

13 “The godless in heart(Y) harbor resentment;(Z)
    even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.(AA)
14 They die in their youth,(AB)
    among male prostitutes of the shrines.(AC)
15 But those who suffer(AD) he delivers in their suffering;(AE)
    he speaks(AF) to them in their affliction.(AG)

16 “He is wooing(AH) you from the jaws of distress
    to a spacious place(AI) free from restriction,(AJ)
    to the comfort of your table(AK) laden with choice food.(AL)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;(AM)
    judgment and justice have taken hold of you.(AN)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
    do not let a large bribe(AO) turn you aside.(AP)
19 Would your wealth(AQ) or even all your mighty efforts
    sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20 Do not long for the night,(AR)
    to drag people away from their homes.[b]
21 Beware of turning to evil,(AS)
    which you seem to prefer to affliction.(AT)

22 “God is exalted in his power.(AU)
    Who is a teacher like him?(AV)
23 Who has prescribed his ways(AW) for him,(AX)
    or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?(AY)
24 Remember to extol his work,(AZ)
    which people have praised in song.(BA)
25 All humanity has seen it;(BB)
    mortals gaze on it from afar.
26 How great is God—beyond our understanding!(BC)
    The number of his years is past finding out.(BD)

27 “He draws up the drops of water,(BE)
    which distill as rain to the streams[c];(BF)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
    and abundant showers(BG) fall on mankind.(BH)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
    how he thunders(BI) from his pavilion?(BJ)
30 See how he scatters his lightning(BK) about him,
    bathing the depths of the sea.(BL)
31 This is the way he governs[d] the nations(BM)
    and provides food(BN) in abundance.(BO)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
    and commands it to strike its mark.(BP)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;(BQ)
    even the cattle make known its approach.[e](BR)

Footnotes

  1. Job 36:12 Or will cross the river
  2. Job 36:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.
  3. Job 36:27 Or distill from the mist as rain
  4. Job 36:31 Or nourishes
  5. Job 36:33 Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil
Book name not found: Job for the version: 1881 Westcott-Hort New Testament.

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.