Job 36
Christian Standard Bible
36 Then Elihu continued, saying:
2 Be patient with me a little longer, and I will inform you,
for there is still more to be said on God’s behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from a distant place
and ascribe justice to my Maker.
4 Indeed, my words are not false;
one who has complete knowledge is with you.
5 Yes, God is mighty, but he despises no one;
he understands all things.[a](A)
6 He does not keep the wicked alive,(B)
but he gives justice to the oppressed.
7 He does not withdraw his gaze from the righteous,
but he seats them forever with enthroned kings,
and they are exalted.
8 If people are bound with chains
and trapped by the cords of affliction,
9 God tells them what they have done
and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
10 He opens their ears(C) to correction
and tells them to repent from iniquity.
11 If they listen and serve him,
they will end their days in prosperity
and their years in happiness.(D)
12 But if they do not listen,
they will cross the river of death[b]
and die without knowledge.(E)
13 Those who have a godless heart harbor anger;
even when God binds them, they do not cry for help.
14 They die in their youth;
their life ends among male cult prostitutes.(F)
15 God rescues the afflicted by their affliction;
he instructs them by their torment.
16 Indeed, he lured you from the jaws[c] of distress
to a spacious and unconfined place.
Your table was spread with choice food.
17 Yet now you are obsessed with the judgment due the wicked;
judgment and justice have seized you.
18 Be careful that no one lures you with riches;[d]
do not let a large ransom[e] lead you astray.(G)
19 Can your wealth[f] or all your physical exertion
keep you from distress?(H)
20 Do not long for the night
when nations will disappear from their places.
21 Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity,
for that is why you have been tested by[g] affliction.
22 Look, God shows himself exalted by his power.
Who is a teacher like him?
23 Who has appointed his way for him,
and who has declared, “You have done wrong”?(I)
24 Remember that you should praise his work,
which people have sung about.(J)
25 All mankind has seen it;
people have looked at it from a distance.(K)
26 Yes, God is exalted beyond our knowledge;(L)
the number of his years cannot be counted.(M)
27 For he makes waterdrops evaporate;[h]
they distill the rain into its[i] mist,(N)
28 which the clouds pour out
and shower abundantly on mankind.
29 Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out
or how the thunder roars from God’s pavilion?(O)
30 See how he spreads his lightning(P) around him
and covers the depths of the sea.
31 For he judges the nations with these;
he gives food in abundance.(Q)
32 He covers his hands with lightning
and commands it to hit its mark.
33 The[j] thunder declares his presence;[k]
the cattle also, the approaching storm.
Footnotes
- 36:5 Lit he is mighty in strength of heart
- 36:12 Or will perish by the sword
- 36:16 Lit from a mouth of narrowness
- 36:18 Or you into mockery
- 36:18 Or bribe
- 36:19 Or cry for help
- 36:21 Or for you have preferred this to
- 36:27 Lit he draws in waterdrops
- 36:27 Or his
- 36:33 Lit His, or Its
- 36:33 Lit thunder announces concerning him or it
Job 36
Legacy Standard Bible
Elihu Says God Gives the Afflicted Justice
36 Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Wait for me a little, and I will show you
That there [a]is yet more to be said in God’s behalf.
3 I will take up my knowledge from afar,
And I will ascribe (A)righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly (B)my words are not a lie;
One who is [b](C)perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Behold, God is mighty but does not (D)reject;
He is (E)mighty in the power of His heart.
6 He does not (F)keep the wicked alive,
But gives justice to (G)the afflicted.
7 He does not (H)withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But (I)with kings on the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
8 And if they are bound in fetters,
And are caught in the cords of (J)affliction,
9 Then He declares to them their work
And their transgressions, that they have (K)magnified themselves.
10 (L)He opens their ear to discipline,
And (M)says that they return from wickedness.
11 If they hear and serve Him,
They will (N)end their days in prosperity
And their years in (O)pleasures.
12 But if they do not hear, they shall pass away (P)by a weapon
And they will (Q)breathe their last without knowledge.
13 But the godless in heart lay up anger;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 [c]They die in youth,
And their life perishes among the (R)cult prostitutes.
15 He delivers the afflicted in [d]their (S)affliction,
And (T)opens their ear in [e]time of oppression.
16 Then indeed, He (U)enticed you from the mouth of distress,
Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
And the comfort of your table full of [f]fatness.
17 “But you were full of (V)judgment on the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Beware lest (W)wrath entice you to scoffing;
And do not let the greatness of the (X)atonement turn you aside.
19 Will your [g]cries keep you from distress,
Or all the forces of your power?
20 Do not long for (Y)the night,
When people [h]vanish in their place.
21 Be careful, do (Z)not turn to wickedness,
For you have chosen this to (AA)affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a (AB)teacher like Him?
23 Who has appointed Him His way,
And who has said, ‘(AC)You have worked out [i]unrighteousness’?
24 “Remember that you should (AD)exalt His work,
Of which men have (AE)sung.
25 All men have beheld it;
Man looks from afar.
26 Behold, God is (AF)exalted, and (AG)we do not know Him;
The (AH)number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For (AI)He draws up the drops of water,
They distill rain for His [j]stream,
28 Which the clouds pour down,
They drip upon man abundantly.
29 Can anyone discern the (AJ)spreading of the clouds,
The (AK)thundering of His [k]pavilion?
30 Behold, He spreads His [l]lightning about Him,
And He covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by these He (AL)judges peoples;
He (AM)gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with the [m]lightning,
And (AN)commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its (AO)thundering declares about Him;
The cattle also, concerning what is coming up.
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