Job 35-37
English Standard Version
Elihu Condemns Job
35 And Elihu answered and said:
2 “Do you think this to be just?
Do you say, (A)‘It is my right before God,’
3 that you ask, (B)‘What advantage have I?
How am I better off than if I had sinned?’
4 I will answer you
and (C)your friends with you.
5 (D)Look at the heavens, and see;
and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.
6 If you have sinned, (E)what do you accomplish against him?
And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
7 (F)If you are righteous, what do you give to him?
Or what does he receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself,
and your righteousness (G)a son of man.
9 “Because of the multitude of (H)oppressions people (I)cry out;
they call for help because of the arm of (J)the mighty.[a]
10 But none says, ‘Where is God my (K)Maker,
who gives (L)songs in the night,
11 who teaches us (M)more than the beasts of the earth
and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’
12 There they (N)cry out, but he does not answer,
because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God does not hear an empty cry,
nor does the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when you say that you (O)do not see him,
that the case is before him, and you are (P)waiting for him!
15 And now, because (Q)his anger does not punish,
and he does not take much note of transgression,[b]
16 Job opens his mouth in empty talk;
he (R)multiplies words (S)without knowledge.”
Elihu Extols God's Greatness
36 And Elihu continued, and said:
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you,
for I have yet something to say on God's behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from (T)afar
and ascribe (U)righteousness to my (V)Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false;
one who is (W)perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, and (X)does not despise any;
he is (Y)mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive,
but gives (Z)the afflicted their right.
7 He does not withdraw his (AA)eyes from the righteous,
but with (AB)kings on the throne
he sets them forever, and they are (AC)exalted.
8 And if they are (AD)bound in chains
and caught in the cords of affliction,
9 then he declares to them their work
and their transgressions, that they are (AE)behaving arrogantly.
10 He (AF)opens their ears to instruction
and commands that they (AG)return from iniquity.
11 (AH)If they listen and serve him,
they (AI)complete their days in prosperity,
and their years in pleasantness.
12 But if they do not listen, they (AJ)perish by the sword
and die (AK)without knowledge.
13 “The (AL)godless in heart cherish anger;
they do not cry for help when he (AM)binds them.
14 They (AN)die in youth,
and their life ends among the cult prostitutes.
15 He delivers (AO)the afflicted by their affliction
and (AP)opens their ear by adversity.
16 He also allured you out of distress
into (AQ)a broad place where there was no cramping,
and what was set on your (AR)table was full of (AS)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 (AT)the ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your (AU)cry for help avail to keep you from distress,
or all the force of your strength?
20 Do not long for (AV)the night,
when peoples vanish (AW)in their place.
21 Take care; (AX)do not turn to iniquity,
for this you have chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power;
who is (AY)a teacher like him?
23 Who has (AZ)prescribed for him his way,
or who can say, (BA)‘You have done wrong’?
24 “Remember to (BB)extol his work,
of which men have (BC)sung.
25 All mankind has looked on it;
man beholds it from afar.
26 Behold, God is great, and we (BD)know him not;
the number of his (BE)years is unsearchable.
27 For he draws up the drops of water;
they distill his (BF)mist in (BG)rain,
28 which (BH)the skies pour down
and drop on mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand (BI)the spreading of the clouds,
the thunderings of his (BJ)pavilion?
30 Behold, he scatters his lightning about him
and covers the roots of the sea.
31 For by these he (BK)judges peoples;
he gives (BL)food in abundance.
32 He covers his (BM)hands with the lightning
and commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its crashing declares his presence;[c]
the cattle also declare that he rises.
Elihu Proclaims God's Majesty
37 “At this also my heart trembles
and leaps out of its place.
2 Keep listening to the thunder of his voice
and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3 Under the whole heaven he lets it go,
and his (BN)lightning to the (BO)corners of the earth.
4 After it (BP)his voice roars;
(BQ)he thunders with his majestic voice,
and he does not restrain the lightnings[d] when his voice is heard.
5 God thunders wondrously with his voice;
he does (BR)great things that we cannot (BS)comprehend.
6 For to (BT)the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
7 He (BU)seals up the hand of every man,
that all men whom he made may (BV)know it.
8 Then the beasts go into their (BW)lairs,
and remain in their (BX)dens.
9 From (BY)its chamber (BZ)comes the whirlwind,
and (CA)cold from the scattering winds.
10 By the breath of God (CB)ice is given,
and (CC)the broad waters are frozen fast.
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
the clouds scatter his lightning.
12 They (CD)turn around and around by his (CE)guidance,
(CF)to accomplish all that he commands them
on the face of (CG)the habitable world.
13 Whether for (CH)correction or for his (CI)land
or for (CJ)love, he causes it to happen.
14 “Hear this, O Job;
stop and (CK)consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know how God lays his command upon them
and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16 Do you know the balancings[e] of the clouds,
the wondrous works of him who is (CL)perfect in knowledge,
17 you whose garments are hot
when the earth is still because of the south wind?
18 Can you, like him, (CM)spread out the skies,
hard as a cast metal (CN)mirror?
19 Teach us what we shall say to him;
we cannot draw up our case because of (CO)darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I would speak?
Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?
21 “And now no one looks on the light
when it is bright in the skies,
when the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 Out of the north comes golden splendor;
God is clothed with (CP)awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty—we (CQ)cannot find him;
he is (CR)great in power;
(CS)justice and abundant righteousness he will not (CT)violate.
24 Therefore men (CU)fear him;
he does not regard any who are (CV)wise in their own conceit.”[f]
Job 35-37
New International Version
35 Then Elihu said:
2 “Do you think this is just?
You say, ‘I am in the right,(A) not God.’(B)
3 Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,[a]
and what do I gain by not sinning?’(C)
4 “I would like to reply to you
and to your friends with you.
5 Look up at the heavens(D) and see;
gaze at the clouds so high above you.(E)
6 If you sin, how does that affect him?
If your sins are many, what does that do to him?(F)
7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him,(G)
or what does he receive(H) from your hand?(I)
8 Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,(J)
and your righteousness only other people.(K)
9 “People cry out(L) under a load of oppression;(M)
they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.(N)
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,(O)
who gives songs(P) in the night,(Q)
11 who teaches(R) us(S) more than he teaches[b] the beasts of the earth
and makes us wiser than[c] the birds in the sky?’
12 He does not answer(T) when people cry out
because of the arrogance(U) of the wicked.(V)
13 Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;
the Almighty pays no attention to it.(W)
14 How much less, then, will he listen
when you say that you do not see him,(X)
that your case(Y) is before him
and you must wait for him,(Z)
15 and further, that his anger never punishes(AA)
and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.[d](AB)
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;(AC)
without knowledge he multiplies words.”(AD)
36 Elihu continued:
2 “Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
3 I get my knowledge from afar;(AE)
I will ascribe justice to my Maker.(AF)
4 Be assured that my words are not false;(AG)
one who has perfect knowledge(AH) is with you.(AI)
5 “God is mighty,(AJ) but despises no one;(AK)
he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.(AL)
6 He does not keep the wicked alive(AM)
but gives the afflicted their rights.(AN)
7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous;(AO)
he enthrones them with kings(AP)
and exalts them forever.(AQ)
8 But if people are bound in chains,(AR)
held fast by cords of affliction,(AS)
9 he tells them what they have done—
that they have sinned arrogantly.(AT)
10 He makes them listen(AU) to correction(AV)
and commands them to repent of their evil.(AW)
11 If they obey and serve him,(AX)
they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity(AY)
and their years in contentment.(AZ)
12 But if they do not listen,
they will perish by the sword[e](BA)
and die without knowledge.(BB)
13 “The godless in heart(BC) harbor resentment;(BD)
even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.(BE)
14 They die in their youth,(BF)
among male prostitutes of the shrines.(BG)
15 But those who suffer(BH) he delivers in their suffering;(BI)
he speaks(BJ) to them in their affliction.(BK)
16 “He is wooing(BL) you from the jaws of distress
to a spacious place(BM) free from restriction,(BN)
to the comfort of your table(BO) laden with choice food.(BP)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;(BQ)
judgment and justice have taken hold of you.(BR)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
do not let a large bribe(BS) turn you aside.(BT)
19 Would your wealth(BU) or even all your mighty efforts
sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20 Do not long for the night,(BV)
to drag people away from their homes.[f]
21 Beware of turning to evil,(BW)
which you seem to prefer to affliction.(BX)
22 “God is exalted in his power.(BY)
Who is a teacher like him?(BZ)
23 Who has prescribed his ways(CA) for him,(CB)
or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?(CC)
24 Remember to extol his work,(CD)
which people have praised in song.(CE)
25 All humanity has seen it;(CF)
mortals gaze on it from afar.
26 How great is God—beyond our understanding!(CG)
The number of his years is past finding out.(CH)
27 “He draws up the drops of water,(CI)
which distill as rain to the streams[g];(CJ)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
and abundant showers(CK) fall on mankind.(CL)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
how he thunders(CM) from his pavilion?(CN)
30 See how he scatters his lightning(CO) about him,
bathing the depths of the sea.(CP)
31 This is the way he governs[h] the nations(CQ)
and provides food(CR) in abundance.(CS)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
and commands it to strike its mark.(CT)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;(CU)
even the cattle make known its approach.[i](CV)
37 “At this my heart pounds(CW)
and leaps from its place.
2 Listen!(CX) Listen to the roar of his voice,(CY)
to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.(CZ)
3 He unleashes his lightning(DA) beneath the whole heaven
and sends it to the ends of the earth.(DB)
4 After that comes the sound of his roar;
he thunders(DC) with his majestic voice.(DD)
When his voice resounds,
he holds nothing back.
5 God’s voice thunders(DE) in marvelous ways;(DF)
he does great things beyond our understanding.(DG)
6 He says to the snow,(DH) ‘Fall on the earth,’
and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’(DI)
7 So that everyone he has made may know his work,(DJ)
he stops all people from their labor.[j](DK)
8 The animals take cover;(DL)
they remain in their dens.(DM)
9 The tempest comes out from its chamber,(DN)
the cold from the driving winds.(DO)
10 The breath of God produces ice,
and the broad waters become frozen.(DP)
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;(DQ)
he scatters his lightning(DR) through them.(DS)
12 At his direction they swirl around
over the face of the whole earth
to do whatever he commands them.(DT)
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,(DU)
or to water his earth and show his love.(DV)
14 “Listen(DW) to this, Job;
stop and consider God’s wonders.(DX)
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
and makes his lightning(DY) flash?(DZ)
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,(EA)
those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?(EB)
17 You who swelter in your clothes
when the land lies hushed under the south wind,(EC)
18 can you join him in spreading out the skies,(ED)
hard as a mirror of cast bronze?(EE)
19 “Tell us what we should say to him;(EF)
we cannot draw up our case(EG) because of our darkness.(EH)
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21 Now no one can look at the sun,(EI)
bright as it is in the skies
after the wind has swept them clean.
22 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;(EJ)
God comes in awesome majesty.(EK)
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;(EL)
in his justice(EM) and great righteousness, he does not oppress.(EN)
24 Therefore, people revere him,(EO)
for does he not have regard for all the wise(EP) in heart?[k]”
Footnotes
- Job 35:3 Or you
- Job 35:11 Or night, / 11 who teaches us by
- Job 35:11 Or us wise by
- Job 35:15 Symmachus, Theodotion and Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Job 36:12 Or will cross the river
- Job 36:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.
- Job 36:27 Or distill from the mist as rain
- Job 36:31 Or nourishes
- Job 36:33 Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil
- Job 37:7 Or work, / he fills all people with fear by his power
- Job 37:24 Or for he does not have regard for any who think they are wise.
John 3
English Standard Version
You Must Be Born Again
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named (A)Nicodemus, (B)a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus[a] (C)by night and said to him, (D)“Rabbi, (E)we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do (F)unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is (G)born (H)again[b] he cannot (I)see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born (J)of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 (K)That which is born of the flesh is (L)flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c] 7 (M)Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born (N)again.’ 8 (O)The wind[e] blows (P)where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to him, (Q)“How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel (R)and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, (S)we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but (T)you[f] do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 (U)No one has (V)ascended into heaven except (W)he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[g] 14 And (X)as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man (Y)be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes (Z)in him (AA)may have eternal life.[h]
For God So Loved the World
16 “For (AB)God so loved (AC)the world,[i] (AD)that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not (AE)perish but have eternal life. 17 For (AF)God did not send his Son into the world (AG)to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 (AH)Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not (AI)believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 (AJ)And this is the judgment: (AK)the light has come into the world, and (AL)people loved the darkness rather than the light because (AM)their works were evil. 20 (AN)For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, (AO)lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever (AP)does what is true (AQ)comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
John the Baptist Exalts Christ
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and (AR)was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for (AS)John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over (AT)purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, (AU)“Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, (AV)to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and (AW)all are going to him.” 27 John answered, (AX)“A person cannot receive even one thing (AY)unless it is given him (AZ)from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, (BA)‘I am not the Christ, but (BB)I have been sent before him.’ 29 (BC)The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. (BD)The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, (BE)rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 (BF)He must increase, but I must decrease.”[j]
31 (BG)He who comes from above (BH)is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and (BI)speaks in an earthly way. (BJ)He who comes from heaven (BK)is above all. 32 (BL)He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, (BM)yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony (BN)sets his seal to this, (BO)that God is true. 34 For he whom (BP)God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit (BQ)without measure. 35 (BR)The Father loves the Son and (BS)has given all things into his hand. 36 (BT)Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; (BU)whoever does not obey the Son shall not (BV)see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Footnotes
- John 3:2 Greek him
- John 3:3 Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above; also verse 7
- John 3:6 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit
- John 3:7 The Greek for you is plural here
- John 3:8 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit
- John 3:11 The Greek for you is plural here; also four times in verse 12
- John 3:13 Some manuscripts add who is in heaven
- John 3:15 Some interpreters hold that the quotation ends at verse 15
- John 3:16 Or For this is how God loved the world
- John 3:30 Some interpreters hold that the quotation continues through verse 36
John 3
New International Version
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus(A) who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.(B) 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi,(C) we know(D) that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs(E) you are doing if God were not with him.”(F)
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”(G)
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.(H) 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit.(I) 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d](J)
9 “How can this be?”(K) Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,”(L) said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know,(M) and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.(N) 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven(O) except the one who came from heaven(P)—the Son of Man.[e](Q) 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,(R) so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f](S) 15 that everyone who believes(T) may have eternal life in him.”[g](U)
16 For God so loved(V) the world that he gave(W) his one and only Son,(X) that whoever believes(Y) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.(Z) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world(AA) to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.(AB) 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned,(AC) but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.(AD) 19 This is the verdict: Light(AE) has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.(AF) 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.(AG) 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
John Testifies Again About Jesus
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.(AH) 23 Now John(AI) also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.)(AJ) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.(AK) 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi,(AL) that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified(AM) about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’(AN) 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom.(AO) The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.(AP) 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”[h]
31 The one who comes from above(AQ) is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth.(AR) The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard,(AS) but no one accepts his testimony.(AT) 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent(AU) speaks the words of God, for God[i] gives the Spirit(AV) without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.(AW) 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,(AX) but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
Footnotes
- John 3:3 The Greek for again also means from above; also in verse 7.
- John 3:6 Or but spirit
- John 3:7 The Greek is plural.
- John 3:8 The Greek for Spirit is the same as that for wind.
- John 3:13 Some manuscripts Man, who is in heaven
- John 3:14 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
- John 3:15 Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 21.
- John 3:30 Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 36.
- John 3:34 Greek he
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