Job 36

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Elihu went on speaking. He said:	1 Elihu proceeded further and said:
2 Be patient a little longer while I explain, for I have more to say on God's behalf.	2 Wait yet a little and I will instruct you, for there are still words to be said on God's behalf.
3 I shal range far afield for my arguments to prove my Maker just.	3 I will bring my knowledge from afar, and to my Maker I will accord the right.
4 I guarantee, nothing I shal say wil be untrue: you have a man of sound learning here.	4 For indeed, my theme cannot fail me: the one perfect in knowledge I set before you.
5 God does not reject anyone whose heart is pure	5 Behold, God rejects the obstinate in heart; he preserves not the life of the wicked.
6 or let the sinner live on in al his power. He does accord fair judgement to the afflicted;	6 He withholds not the just man's rights, but grants vindication to the oppressed,
7 he does uphold what the upright deserve. When he raises kings to thrones, if they grow proud of theirunending rule,	7 And with kings upon thrones he sets them, exalted forever.
8 then he fetters them with chains, they are caught in the bonds of affliction.	8 Or if they are bound with fetters and held fast by bonds of affliction,
9 He shows them the import of their deeds, of the sins of pride they have committed.	9 Then he makes known to them what they have done and their sins of boastful pride.
10 In their ears he sounds a warning, ordering them to turn back from doing wrong.	10 He opens their ears to correction and exhorts them to turn back from evil.
11 If they take notice and obey him, the rest of their days are prosperous and the years pass pleasantly.	11 If they obey and serve him, they spend their days in prosperity, their years in happiness.
12 If not, they go down the Canal and perish in their stupidity.	12 But if they obey not, they perish; they die for lack of knowledge.
13 The stubborn, who cherish their anger and do not cry for help when he chains them,	13 The impious in heart lay up anger for themselves; they cry not for help when he enchains them;
14 die in the bloom of youth or live among the male prostitutes of the temple.	14 Therefore they expire in youth, and perish among the reprobate.
15 But God saves the afflicted by his affliction, warning him in his misery.	15 But he saves the unfortunate through their affliction, and instructs them through distress.
16 You, too, he would like to snatch from torment. While you were enjoying boundless abundance, withrich food piled high on your table,
17 you did not bring the wicked to trial and did not give fair judgement to the orphan.
18 Beware of being led astray by abundance, of being corrupted by expensive presents.
19 Take the powerful to law, not merely the penniless, those whose arm is strong, not merely the weak.
20 Do not crush people you do not know to instal your relations in their place.	20
21 Avoid any tendency to wrong-doing, for this is why affliction is testing you now.	21 Take heed, turn not to evil; for you have preferred carousal to affliction.
22 See, God is sublime in his strength and who can teach lessons as he does?	22 Behold, God is sublime in his power. What teacher is there like him?
23 Who has even told him which course to take, or dared to say to him, 'You have done wrong'?	23 Who prescribes for him his conduct, or who can say, "You have done wrong"?
24 Consider, rather, how you may praise his work, a theme that many have sung.	24 Remember, you should extol his work, which men have praised in song.
25 This is something that everyone can see, gazing, as we do, from afar.	25 All men contemplate it; man beholds it from afar.
26 Yes, the greatness of God exceeds our knowledge, the number of his years is past counting.	26 Lo, God is great beyond our knowledge; the number of his years is past searching out.
27 It is he who makes the raindrops smal and pulverises the rain into mist.	27 He holds in check the waterdrops that filter in rain through his mists,
28 And the clouds then pour this out, sending it streaming down on the human race.	28 Till the skies run with them and the showers rain down on mankind.
29 And who can fathom how he spreads the clouds, or why such crashes thunder from his tent?
30 He spreads a mist before him and covers the tops of the mountains.	30 Lo! he spreads the clouds in layers as the carpeting of his tent.
31 By these means, he sustains the peoples, giving them plenty to eat.	31 For by these he nourishes the nations, and gives them food in abundance.
32 He gathers up the lightning in his hands, assigning it the mark where to strike.	32 In his hands he holds the lightning, and he commands it to strike the mark.
33 His crashing gives warning of its coming, anger flashes out against iniquity.	33 His thunder speaks for him and incites the fury of the storm.