Jó 36

Og videre sagde Elihu:

Bi nu lidt, jeg har noget at sige dig, thi end har jeg Ord til Forsvar for Gud.

Jeg vil hente min Viden langvejsfra og skaffe min Skaber Ret;

thi for vist, mine Ord er ikke Opspind, en Mand med fuldkommen Indsigt har du for dig.

Se, Gud forkaster det stive Sind,

den gudløse holder han ikke i Live; de arme lader han få deres Ret,

fra retfærdige vender han ikke sit Blik, men giver dem Plads for stedse hos Konger på Tronen i Højhed.

Og hvis de bindes i Lænker, fanges i Nødens Bånd,

så viser han dem deres Gerning, deres Synder, at de hovmodede sig,

åbner deres Øre for Tugt og byder dem vende sig bort fra det onde.

Hvis de så hører og bøjer sig, da ender de deres Dage i Lykke, i liflig Fryd deres År.

Men hører de ikke, falder de for Sværd og opgiver Ånden i Uforstand.

Men vanhellige Hjerter forbitres; når han binder dem, råber de ikke om Hjælp;

i Ungdommen dør deres Sjæl, deres Liv får Mandsskøgers Lod.

Den elendige frelser han ved hans Elende og åbner hans Øre ved Trængsel.

Men dig har Medgangen lokket, du var i Fred for Ulykkens Gab; ingen Trængsel indjog dig Skræk, fuldt var dit Bord af fede Retter.

Den gudløses som kom til fulde over dig, hans retfærdige Dom greb dig fat.

Lad dig ikke lokke af Vrede til Spot eller Bødens Storhed lede dig vild!

Kan vel dit Skrig gøre Ende på Nøden, eller det at du opbyder al din Kraft?

Ej må du længes efter Natten, som. opskræmmer Folkeslag der, hvor de er;

var dig og vend dig ikke til Uret, så du foretrækker ondt for at lide.

Se, ophøjet er Gud i sin Vælde, hvo er en Lærer som han?

Se til at ophøje hans Værk, som Mennesker priser i Sang!

Alle Mennesker ser det med Fryd, skønt dødelige skuer det kun fra det fjerne.

Se, Gud er ophøjet, kan ikke ransages, Tal på hans År kan ikke fides.

Thi Dråber drager han ud af Havet, i hans Tåge siver de ned som Regn,

og Skyerne lader den strømme og dryppe på mange Folk.

Hvo fatter mon Skyernes Vidder eller hans Boligs Bulder?

Se, han breder sin Tåge om sig og skjuler Havets Rødder;

Thi dermed nærer han Folkene, giver dem Brød i Overflod;

han hyller sine Hænder i Lys og sender det ud imod Målet;

hans Torden melder hans Komme, selv Kvæget melder hans Optræk.

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 have...: Heb. there are yet words for God}

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. {wisdom: Heb. heart}

He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. {poor: or, afflicted}

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.

He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

If they obey and serve {him}, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. {perish: Heb. pass away}

But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

They die in youth, and their life {is} among the unclean. {They...: Heb. Their soul dieth} {unclean: or, sodomites}

He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. {poor: or, afflicted}

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. {that...: Heb. the rest of thy table}

But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold {on thee}. {take...: or, should uphold thee}

Because {there is} wrath, {beware} lest he take thee away with {his} stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. {deliver...: Heb. turn thee aside}

Will he esteem thy riches? {no}, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

Every man may see it; man may behold {it} afar off.

Behold, God {is} great, and we know {him} not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

Which the clouds do drop {and} distil upon man abundantly.

Also can {any} understand the spreadings of the clouds, {or} the noise of his tabernacle?

Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. {bottom: Heb. roots}

For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it {not to shine} by {the cloud} that cometh betwixt.

The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour. {the vapour: Heb. that which goeth up}