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Elihu Says God Gives the Afflicted Justice

36 Then Elihu continued and said,

“Wait for me a little, and I will show you
That there [a]is yet more to be said in God’s behalf.
I will take up my knowledge from afar,
And I will ascribe (A)righteousness to my Maker.
For truly (B)my words are not a lie;
One who is [b](C)perfect in knowledge is with you.
Behold, God is mighty but does not (D)reject;
He is (E)mighty in the power of His heart.
He does not (F)keep the wicked alive,
But gives justice to (G)the afflicted.
He does not (H)withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But (I)with kings on the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
And if they are bound in fetters,
And are caught in the cords of (J)affliction,
Then He declares to them their work
And their transgressions, that they have (K)magnified themselves.
10 (L)He opens their ear to discipline,
And (M)says that they return from wickedness.
11 If they hear and serve Him,
They will (N)end their days in prosperity
And their years in (O)pleasures.
12 But if they do not hear, they shall pass away (P)by a weapon
And they will (Q)breathe their last without knowledge.
13 But the godless in heart lay up anger;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 [c]They die in youth,
And their life perishes among the (R)cult prostitutes.
15 He delivers the afflicted in [d]their (S)affliction,
And (T)opens their ear in [e]time of oppression.
16 Then indeed, He (U)enticed you from the mouth of distress,
Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
And the comfort of your table full of [f]fatness.

17 “But you were full of (V)judgment on the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Beware lest (W)wrath entice you to scoffing;
And do not let the greatness of the (X)atonement turn you aside.
19 Will your [g]cries keep you from distress,
Or all the forces of your power?
20 Do not long for (Y)the night,
When people [h]vanish in their place.
21 Be careful, do (Z)not turn to wickedness,
For you have chosen this to (AA)affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a (AB)teacher like Him?
23 Who has appointed Him His way,
And who has said, ‘(AC)You have worked out [i]unrighteousness’?

24 “Remember that you should (AD)exalt His work,
Of which men have (AE)sung.
25 All men have beheld it;
Man looks from afar.
26 Behold, God is (AF)exalted, and (AG)we do not know Him;
The (AH)number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For (AI)He draws up the drops of water,
They distill rain for His [j]stream,
28 Which the clouds pour down,
They drip upon man abundantly.
29 Can anyone discern the (AJ)spreading of the clouds,
The (AK)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 these He (AL)judges peoples;
He (AM)gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with the [m]lightning,
And (AN)commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its (AO)thundering declares about Him;
The cattle also, concerning what is coming up.

Footnotes

  1. Job 36:2 Lit are yet words for God
  2. Job 36:4 Or blameless
  3. Job 36:14 Or Their soul dies
  4. Job 36:15 Lit his
  5. Job 36:15 Or adversity
  6. Job 36:16 Or rich food
  7. Job 36:19 Or riches
  8. Job 36:20 Lit go up
  9. Job 36:23 Or injustice
  10. Job 36:27 Or mist
  11. Job 36:29 Lit booth
  12. Job 36:30 Lit light
  13. Job 36:32 Lit light

36 Elihu fortsatte. Han sade:

Ha lite tålamod,
    jag har mer att säga till Guds försvar.
Jag vill hämta min insikt från fjärran
    och hävda min skapares
        rättfärdighet.
Mina ord är sannerligen inte falska,
    en som har full insikt är med dig.

Se, Gud är väldig och förkastar ingen,
    han är väldig i sitt förstånds kraft.
(A) Den gudlöse låter han inte leva,
    men de nödställda skaffar han rätt.
(B) Han tar inte sina ögon
        från de rättfärdiga.
    Han låter dem trona i kungars krets,
        upphöjda för evigt.
Men läggs de bundna i kedjor
    och fångas i eländets snaror,
så vill han visa dem vad de har gjort
    och vilka brott de i trots
        har begått.
10 (C) Han öppnar deras öra för tuktan
    och manar dem att vända om
        från synden.
11 (D) Om de lyssnar och tjänar honom,
    får de framleva sina dagar i lycka
        och sina år i ljuvlig ro.
12 Men om de inte lyssnar,
    ska de drabbas av svärdet
        och gå under i sitt oförstånd.

13 De som har gudlösa hjärtan
        tar till vrede,
    de ropar inte på hjälp
        när han binder dem.
14 (E) De ska dö i sin ungdom
    och sluta sitt liv bland horkarlar[a]
        i avgudatempel.
15 (F) Genom lidandet vill han rädda
        den som lider
    och genom nöden öppna hans öra.
16 (G) Också dig vill han locka
        ut ur nödens gap
    till en rymlig plats utan betryck
        och duka ditt bord
            med utsökta rätter.
17 Men du är fylld
        av ogudaktighetens dom,
    dom och rättvisa håller dig fast.
18 Låt inte vreden locka dig att håna,[b]
    och låt inte en stor lösensumma
        förleda dig.
19 Kan ditt rop
        och alla kraftansträngningar
    frita dig från nöd?
20 (H) Längta inte efter den natt
    då folken ska ryckas från sin plats.
21 Akta dig, vänd dig inte till ondskan,
    som du valt i stället för lidande.

22 (I) Se, Gud är upphöjd i sin kraft.
    Var finns en lärare som han?
23 (J) Vem har anvisat honom hans väg,
    och vem kan säga:
        ”Du har gjort orätt”?
24 Kom ihåg att upphöja hans verk
    som människorna besjunger,
25 som alla människor ser,
    som de betraktar om än i fjärran.
26 (K) Se, Gud är för hög för vårt förstånd,
    hans år är fler än någon kan utforska.

27 (L) Vattnets droppar drar han uppåt,
    de strilar som regn från dimman.
28 Det strömmar från skyarna
    och droppar i mängd
        över människor.
29 (M) Kan någon förstå
        hur molnen breder ut sig,
    förstå dundret från hans hydda?
30 Se, han sprider sina blixtars ljus
        omkring sig
    och döljer havets djup.
31 Genom dem dömer han folken,
    men ger också mat i överflöd.
32 Han höljer sina händer i blixtars ljus
    och befaller dem att träffa sitt mål.
33 Hans dunder bär bud om honom,
    även boskapen vet vad som väntar.[c]

Footnotes

  1. 36:14 horkarlar i avgudatempel   Manliga tempelprostituerade (jfr 1 Kung 14:24, 2 Kung 23:7).
  2. 36:18 att håna   Annan översättning: ”när du tuktas”.
  3. 36:33 även boskapen vet vad som väntar   Annan översättning: ”den som ivrar mot det onda”.

Elihu Proclaims God’s Goodness

36 Elihu also proceeded and said:

“Bear with me a little, and I will show you
That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf.
I will fetch my knowledge from afar;
I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
For truly my words are not false;
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

“Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one;
(A)He is mighty in strength [a]of understanding.
He does not preserve the life of the wicked,
But gives justice to the (B)oppressed.
(C)He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But (D)they are on the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever,
And they are exalted.
And (E)if they are bound in [b]fetters,
Held in the cords of affliction,
Then He tells them their work and their transgressions—
That they have acted [c]defiantly.
10 (F)He also opens their ear to [d]instruction,
And commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him,
They shall (G)spend their days in prosperity,
And their years in pleasures.
12 But if they do not obey,
They shall perish by the sword,
And they shall die [e]without (H)knowledge.

13 “But the hypocrites in heart (I)store up wrath;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 (J)They[f] die in youth,
And their life ends among the [g]perverted persons.
15 He delivers the poor in their affliction,
And opens their ears in oppression.

16 “Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress,
(K)Into a broad place where there is no restraint;
And (L)what is set on your table would be full of (M)richness.
17 But you are filled with the judgment due the (N)wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow;
For (O)a large ransom would not help you avoid it.
19 (P)Will your riches,
Or all the mighty forces,
Keep you from distress?
20 Do not desire the night,
When people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, (Q)do not turn to iniquity,
For (R)you have chosen this rather than affliction.

22 “Behold, God is exalted by His power;
Who teaches like Him?
23 (S)Who has assigned Him His way,
Or who has said, ‘You have done (T)wrong’?

Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty

24 “Remember to (U)magnify His work,
Of which men have sung.
25 Everyone has seen it;
Man looks on it from afar.

26 “Behold, God is great, and we (V)do not know Him;
(W)Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
27 For He (X)draws up drops of water,
Which distill as rain from the mist,
28 (Y)Which the clouds drop down
And pour abundantly on man.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds,
The thunder from His canopy?
30 Look, He (Z)scatters His light upon it,
And covers the depths of the sea.
31 For (AA)by these He judges the peoples;
He (AB)gives food in abundance.
32 (AC)He covers His hands with lightning,
And commands it to [h]strike.
33 (AD)His thunder declares it,
The cattle also, concerning [i]the rising storm.

Footnotes

  1. Job 36:5 of heart
  2. Job 36:8 chains
  3. Job 36:9 proudly
  4. Job 36:10 discipline
  5. Job 36:12 MT as one without knowledge
  6. Job 36:14 Lit. Their soul dies
  7. Job 36:14 Heb. qedeshim, those practicing sodomy or prostitution in religious rituals
  8. Job 36:32 strike the mark
  9. Job 36:33 Lit. what is rising

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