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Elihu Exalts God’s Goodness

36 And Eli′hu 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 fetch my knowledge from afar,
    and 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, and does not despise any;
    he is mighty in strength of understanding.
He does not keep the wicked alive,
    but gives the afflicted their right.
He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous,
    but with kings upon the throne
    he sets them for ever, and they are exalted.
And if they are bound in fetters
    and caught in the cords of affliction,
then he declares to them their work
    and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.
10 He opens their ears to instruction,
    and commands that they return from iniquity.
11 If they hearken and serve him,
    they complete their days in prosperity,
    and their years in pleasantness.
12 But if they do not hearken, they perish by the sword,
    and die without knowledge.

13 “The godless in heart cherish anger;
    they do not cry for help when he binds them.
14 They die in youth,
    and their life ends in shame.[a]
15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction,
    and opens their ear by adversity.
16 He also allured you out of distress
    into a broad place where there was no cramping,
    and what was set on your table was full of 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 the ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your cry avail to keep you from distress,
    or all the force of your strength?
20 Do not long for the night,
    when peoples are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, do not turn to iniquity,
    for this you have chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power;
    who is a teacher like him?
23 Who has prescribed for him his way,
    or who can say, ‘Thou hast done wrong’?

Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty

24 “Remember to extol his work,
    of which men have sung.
25 All men have looked on it;
    man beholds it from afar.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not;
    the number of his years is unsearchable.
27 For he draws up the drops of water,
    he[b] distils his mist in rain
28 which the skies pour down,
    and drop upon man abundantly.
29 Can any one understand the spreading of the clouds,
    the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 Behold, he scatters his lightning about him,
    and covers the roots of the sea.
31 For by these he judges peoples;
    he gives food in abundance.
32 He covers his hands with the lightning,
    and commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its crashing declares concerning him,
    who is jealous with anger against iniquity.

Footnotes

  1. Job 36:14 Heb among the cult prostitutes
  2. Job 36:27 Cn: Heb they distil

36 Elihu a urmat şi a zis:

„Aşteaptă puţin şi voi urma,
căci mai am încă de vorbit pentru Dumnezeu.
Îmi voi lua temeiurile de departe
şi voi dovedi dreptatea Ziditorului meu.
Fii încredinţat, cuvântările mele nu sunt minciuni,
ci ai de-a face cu un om cu simţăminte curate.
Dumnezeu este puternic, dar nu leapădă pe nimeni
şi este puternic(A) prin tăria priceperii Lui.
El nu lasă pe cel rău să trăiască
şi face dreptate celui nenorocit.
Nu-Şi(B) întoarce ochii de la cei fără prihană
şi-i pune pe scaunul de domnie cu(C) împăraţii,
îi aşază pentru totdeauna ca să domnească.
Se întâmplă să cadă în lanţuri(D)
şi să fie prinşi în legăturile nenorocirii?
Le pune înainte faptele lor,
fărădelegile lor, mândria lor.
10 Îi înştiinţează(E) ca să se îndrepte,
îi îndeamnă să se întoarcă de la nelegiuire.
11 Dacă ascultă şi se supun,
îşi sfârşesc(F) zilele în fericire
şi anii în bucurie.
12 Dacă n-ascultă, pier ucişi de sabie,
mor în orbirea lor.
13 Nelegiuiţii se mânie(G),
nu strigă către Dumnezeu când îi înlănţuie;
14 îşi pierd viaţa în(H) tinereţe,
mor ca cei desfrânaţi.
15 Dar Dumnezeu scapă pe cel nenorocit prin nenorocirea lui
şi prin suferinţă îl înştiinţează.
16 Şi pe tine te va scoate din strâmtoare,
ca să te pună la loc(I) larg, în slobozenie deplină,
şi masa(J) ta va fi încărcată cu bucate gustoase(K).
17 Dar, dacă-ţi aperi pricina ca un nelegiuit,
pedeapsa este nedezlipită de pricina ta.
18 Supărarea să nu te împingă la batjocură
şi mărimea(L) preţului răscumpărării să nu te ducă în rătăcire!
19 Oare ar ajunge strigătele(M) tale să te scoată din necaz
şi chiar toate puterile pe care le-ai putea desfăşura?
20 Nu suspina după noapte,
care ia popoarele din locul lor.
21 Fereşte-te să faci(N) rău,
căci suferinţa te îndeamnă(O) la rău.
22 Dumnezeu este mare în puterea Lui;
cine ar putea să înveţe(P) pe alţii ca El?
23 Cine Îi cere socoteală(Q) de căile Lui
şi cine îndrăzneşte să-I(R) spună: ‘Faci rău’?
24 Nu uita să lauzi(S) faptele Lui,
pe care toţi oamenii trebuie să le mărească!
25 Orice om le priveşte,
fiecare muritor le vede de departe.
26 Iată ce mare e Dumnezeu!
Dar noi nu-L putem pricepe(T),
numărul anilor(U) Lui nimeni nu l-a pătruns.
27 Căci El trage(V) la El picăturile de apă,
le preface în abur şi dă ploaia,
28 pe care norii(W) o strecoară
şi o picură peste mulţimea oamenilor.
29 Şi cine poate pricepe ruperea norului
şi bubuitul cortului Său?
30 Iată, El Îşi întinde lumina(X) în jurul Lui
şi acoperă adâncimile mării.
31 Prin aceste mijloace(Y),
El judecă popoarele
şi dă(Z) belşug de hrană.
32 Ia fulgerul în mână
şi-l aruncă asupra potrivnicilor Lui.
33 Dă de veste că e de faţă printr-un(AA) bubuit
şi până şi turmele Îi simt apropierea.

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

Elihu Magnifies the Almighty

36 Then Elihu said further:

“Be patient with me a bit longer and I will show you
    that there is more to say on God’s behalf.
I get my knowledge from afar;
    I ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
For truly, my words are not false;
    One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

“Indeed, God is mighty, but despises none,
He is mighty in strength of understanding.
He does not keep the wicked alive,
    but gives justice to the afflicted.
He does not take His eyes from the righteous,
but enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
But if they are bound in chains,
    and held captive by cords of affliction,
then He declares to them their deed
    that they have transgressed arrogantly.
10 And He opens their ear to instruction,
    and commands that they turn from evil.
11 If they obey and serve, they will end their days in prosperity,
    and their years in happiness.
12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword,
    and die without knowledge.

13 “The godless in heart harbor anger,
    they do not cry for help even when He binds them.
14 Their souls die in youth,
    their life ends among cult prostitutes.
15 He delivers the afflicted by his affliction
    and opens their ear in oppression.

16 “And indeed, He will draw you from the mouth of distress,
to a spacious place without constraint, and the comfort of a table full of rich food.
17 But you are full of judgment on the wicked,
    judgment and justice take hold of you!
18 Beware lest wrath entice you with riches;
    or a large bribe turn you aside.
19 Will your wealth sustain you to keep you from distress,
    or even all your mighty efforts?
20 Do not long for the night,
    when people vanish from their places.
21 Be careful, do not turn to iniquity;
    for you have chosen this rather than affliction.

22 “Indeed, God is exalted in His power.
    Who is a teacher like Him?
23 Who has prescribed His way for Him?
    Or said ‘You have done wrong’?
24 Remember to magnify His work,
    of which people have sung.
25 All mankind has seen it;
    people gaze on it from afar.
26 Behold, God is exalted—beyond our knowledge!
    The number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For He draws up the drops of water;
    they distill rain into its mist,
28 which the clouds pour down
    and shower mankind abundantly.
29 Indeed, who can understand the spreading of the clouds,
    and the thunder from His pavilion?

30 “See how He scatters His lightning about Him,
    covering the depths of the sea.
31 For by these, He judges peoples
    and supplies food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with lightning
    and commands it to strike its target.
33 His thunder declares His presence,
    the cattle also, about what is coming.

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.