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36 Elihu also proceeded, and said,

Bear with me a little, and I will show thee that I have yet to speak on behalf of Eloah.

I will get my da’as from afar, and will ascribe tzedek to my Maker.

For truly my words shall not be sheker; one that is tamim (complete) in da’as is among thee.

See, El is kabir (mighty), and despiseth not any; He is kabir in ko’ach lev (strength of understanding).

He preserveth not the life of the rasha, but giveth mishpat to the aniyim.

He withdraweth not His eyes from the tzaddik, but with melachim are they on the kisse; yea, He doth establish them lanetzach (forever), and they are exalted.

And if they be bound in chains, and be held fast in chevlei oni (cords of affliction),

Then He showeth them their work, and their peysha’im that they have done arrogantly.

10 He openeth also their ozen to musar (discipline), and commandeth that they make teshuvah and turn from evil.

11 If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their yamim in tov (prosperity), and their shanim in contentment.

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

13 But the chanefei lev (irreligious in heart, hypocrites) incur wrath; they do not cry for help when He bindeth them.

14 They die in youth, their nefesh among the kedeshim (cult male prostitutes, youthful lusts).

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

16 Even so would He have removed thee out of the tzar (distress) into a rachav (broad place), free from restriction, to the comfort of thy shulchan, full of choice food.

17 But thou hast been fixated on the din of the rasha; din and mishpat take hold on thee.

18 Because there is chemah, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke; then a rav kopher (great ransom) cannot deliver thee.

19 Will He esteem thy riches? No, not zahav, nor all the forces of ko’ach.

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

21 Take heed, regard not iniquity; for this hast thou chosen rather than oni.

22 See, El exalted by His ko’ach. Who is a moreh (teacher) like Him?

23 Who hath enjoined Him His derech? Or who can say, Thou hast done wrong?

24 Remember that thou must extol His work, of which anashim have sung praises.

25 Kol adam has seen it; enosh beholds it afar off.

26 See, El is great, and we know Him not, neither can the mispar of His shanim be searched out.

27 For He draws up the drops of mayim; He distills His mist as matar;

28 Which the clouds do drop and distill upon adam abundantly.

29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the thunderings of His sukkah?

30 See, He spreadeth His ohr upon it, and covereth the depths of the yam.

31 For by them governeth He the amim (nations); He giveth okhel in abundance.

32 His hands He covers with the ohr (lightning), and commandeth it to strike the mark.

33 The thunder thereof showeth concerning Him; the storm tells His indignant af (wrath).

Elihu Extols God's Greatness

36 And Elihu continued, and said:

“Bear with me a little, and I will show you,
    for I have yet something to say on God's behalf.
I will get my knowledge from (A)afar
    and ascribe (B)righteousness to my (C)Maker.
For truly my words are not false;
    one who is (D)perfect in knowledge is with you.

“Behold, God is mighty, and (E)does not despise any;
    he is (F)mighty in strength of understanding.
He does not keep the wicked alive,
    but gives (G)the afflicted their right.
He does not withdraw his (H)eyes from the righteous,
    but with (I)kings on the throne
    he sets them forever, and they are (J)exalted.
And if they are (K)bound in chains
    and caught in the cords of affliction,
then he declares to them their work
    and their transgressions, that they are (L)behaving arrogantly.
10 He (M)opens their ears to instruction
    and commands that they (N)return from iniquity.
11 (O)If they listen and serve him,
    they (P)complete their days in prosperity,
    and their years in pleasantness.
12 But if they do not listen, they (Q)perish by the sword
    and die (R)without knowledge.

13 “The (S)godless in heart cherish anger;
    they do not cry for help when he (T)binds them.
14 They (U)die in youth,
    and their life ends among the cult prostitutes.
15 He delivers (V)the afflicted by their affliction
    and (W)opens their ear by adversity.
16 He also allured you out of distress
    into (X)a broad place where there was no cramping,
    and what was set on your (Y)table was full of (Z)fatness.

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 (AA)the ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your (AB)cry for help avail to keep you from distress,
    or all the force of your strength?
20 Do not long for (AC)the night,
    when peoples vanish (AD)in their place.
21 Take care; (AE)do not turn to iniquity,
    for this you have chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power;
    who is (AF)a teacher like him?
23 Who has (AG)prescribed for him his way,
    or who can say, (AH)‘You have done wrong’?

24 “Remember to (AI)extol his work,
    of which men have (AJ)sung.
25 All mankind has looked on it;
    man beholds it from afar.
26 Behold, God is great, and we (AK)know him not;
    the number of his (AL)years is unsearchable.
27 For he draws up the drops of water;
    they distill his (AM)mist in (AN)rain,
28 which (AO)the skies pour down
    and drop on mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand (AP)the spreading of the clouds,
    the thunderings of his (AQ)pavilion?
30 Behold, he scatters his lightning about him
    and covers the roots of the sea.
31 For by these he (AR)judges peoples;
    he gives (AS)food in abundance.
32 He covers his (AT)hands with the lightning
    and commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its crashing declares his presence;[a]
    the cattle also declare that he rises.

Footnotes

  1. Job 36:33 Hebrew declares concerning him