Chapter 36

¹Eliu also proceeded, and said : ²Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee : for I have yet somewhat to speak in God's behalf. ³I will repeat my knowledge from the beginning, and I will prove my Maker just. ⁴For indeed my words are without a lie, and perfect knowledge shall be proved to thee. ⁵God doth not cast away the mighty, whereas he himself also is mighty. ⁶But he saveth not the wicked, and he giveth judgment to the poor. ⁷He will not take away his eyes from the just, and he placeth kings on the throne for ever, and they are exalted. ⁸And if they shall be in chains, and be bound with the cords of poverty : ⁹He shall shew them their works, and their wicked deeds, because they have been violent. ¹⁰He also shall open their ear, to correct them : and shall speak, that they may return from iniquity. ¹¹If they shall hear and observe, they shall accomplish their days in good, and their years in glory. ¹²But if they hear not, they shall pass by the sword, and shall be consumed in folly. ¹³Dissemblers and crafty men prove the wrath of God, neither shall they cry when they are bound. ¹⁴Their soul shall die in a storm, and their life among the effeminate. ¹⁵He shall deliver the poor out of his distress, and shall open his ear in affliction. ¹⁶Therefore he shall set thee at large out of the narrow mouth, and which hath no foundation under it : and the rest of thy table shall be full of fatness. ¹⁷Thy cause hath been judged as that of the wicked, cause and judgment thou shalt recover. ¹⁸Therefore let not anger overcome thee to oppress any man : neither let multitude of gifts turn thee aside. ¹⁹Lay down thy greatness without tribulation, and all the mighty of strength. ²⁰Prolong not the night that people may come up for them. ²¹Beware thou turn not aside to iniquity : for this thou hast begun to follow after misery. ²²Behold, God is high in his strength, and none is like him among the lawgivers. ²³Who can search out his ways? or who can say to him : Thou has wrought iniquity? ²⁴Remember that thou knowest not his work, concerning which men have sung. ²⁵All men see him, every one beholdeth afar off. ²⁶Behold, God is great, exceeding our knowledge : the number of his years is inestimable. ²⁷He lifteth up the drops of rain, and poureth out showers like floods : ²⁸Which flow from the clouds that cover all above. ²⁹If he will spread out clouds as his tent, ³⁰And lighten with his light from above, he shall cover also the ends of the sea. ³¹For by these he judgeth people, and giveth food to many mortals. ³²In his hands he hideth the light, and commandeth it to come again. ³³He sheweth his friend concerning it, that it is his possession, and that he may come up to it.