The Book of Job. The Harvard Classics. 190914.
XXXVI
[1 ] ELIHU also proceeded, and said,
[2 ] Suffer 1 me a little, and I will show thee; For I 2 have yet somewhat to say on Gods behalf.
[3 ] I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
[4 ] For truly my words are not false: One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
[5 ] Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength of understanding. 3
[6 ] He preserveth not the life of the wicked, But giveth to the afflicted their right.
[7 ] He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.
[8 ] And if they be bound in fetters, And be taken in the cords of affliction;
[9 ] Then he showeth them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
[10 ] He openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth that they return from iniquity.
[11 ] If they hearken and serve him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures. 4
[12 ] But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the 5 sword, And they shall die without knowledge.
[13 ] But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: They cry not for help when he bindeth them.
[14 ] They 6 die in youth, And their life perisheth among 7 the unclean. 8
[15 ] He delivereth the afflicted by 9 their affliction, And openeth their ear in 10 oppression.
[16 ] Yea, he would have allured thee out 11 of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness.
[17 ] But thou art 12 full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold on thee.
[18 ] For 13 let not wrath stir thee up against chastisements; Neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.
[19 ] Will thy cry avail, that thou be not in distress, Or all the forces of thy strength?
[20 ] Desire not the night, When peoples are 14 cut off in their place.
[21 ] Take heed, regard not iniquity; For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
[22 ] Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: Who is a teacher like unto him?
[23 ] Who hath enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?
[24 ] Remember that thou magnify his work, Whereof men have sung.
[25 ] All men have looked thereon; Man beholdeth it afar off.
[26 ] Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable.
[27 ] For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from 15 his 16 vapor,
[28 ] Which the skies pour down And drop upon man abundantly.
[29 ] Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion?
[30 ] Behold, he spreadeth his light around 17 him; And he covereth 18 the bottom of the sea.
[31 ] For by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.
[32 ] He covereth his hands with the lightning, 19 And giveth it a charge that 20 it strike the mark.
[33 ] The noise thereof telleth concerning him, 21 The cattle also concerning the 22 storm that cometh up.
Note 1. Heb. Wait for. [back ]
Note 2. Heb. there are yet words for God. [back ]
Note 3. Heb. heart. [back ]
Note 4. Or, pleasantness. [back ]
Note 5. Or, weapons. [back ]
Note 6. Heb. Their soul dieth. [back ]
Note 7. Or, like. [back ]
Note 8. Or, sodomites. See Deut. 23. 17. [back ]
Note 9. Or, in. [back ]
Note 10. Or, by adversity. [back ]
Note 11. Heb. out of the mouth of. [back ]
Note 12. Or, hast filled up. [back ]
Note 13. Or, Because there is wrath, beware lest thou be led away by thy sufficiency. [back ]
Note 14. Heb. go up. [back ]
Note 15. Heb. belonging to. [back ]
Note 16. Or, the vapor thereof. [back ]
Note 17. Or, thereon. [back ]
Note 18. Or, covereth it with the depths of the sea. [back ]
Note 19. Heb. light. [back ]
Note 20. Or, against the assailant. [back ]
Note 21. Or, it. [back ]
Note 22. Or, him. [back ]