Job 36
English Standard Version
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 (A)afar
and ascribe (B)righteousness to my (C)Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false;
one who is (D)perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, and (E)does not despise any;
he is (F)mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive,
but gives (G)the afflicted their right.
7 He does not withdraw his (H)eyes from the righteous,
but with (I)kings on the throne
he sets them forever, and they are (J)exalted.
8 And if they are (K)bound in chains
and caught in the cords of affliction,
9 then he declares to them their work
and their transgressions, that they are (L)behaving arrogantly.
10 He (M)opens their ears to instruction
and commands that they (N)return from iniquity.
11 (O)If they listen and serve him,
they (P)complete their days in prosperity,
and their years in pleasantness.
12 But if they do not listen, they (Q)perish by the sword
and die (R)without knowledge.
13 “The (S)godless in heart cherish anger;
they do not cry for help when he (T)binds them.
14 They (U)die in youth,
and their life ends among the cult prostitutes.
15 He delivers (V)the afflicted by their affliction
and (W)opens their ear by adversity.
16 He also allured you out of distress
into (X)a broad place where there was no cramping,
and what was set on your (Y)table was full of (Z)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 (AA)the ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your (AB)cry for help avail to keep you from distress,
or all the force of your strength?
20 Do not long for (AC)the night,
when peoples vanish (AD)in their place.
21 Take care; (AE)do not turn to iniquity,
for this you have chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power;
who is (AF)a teacher like him?
23 Who has (AG)prescribed for him his way,
or who can say, (AH)‘You have done wrong’?
24 “Remember to (AI)extol his work,
of which men have (AJ)sung.
25 All mankind has looked on it;
man beholds it from afar.
26 Behold, God is great, and we (AK)know him not;
the number of his (AL)years is unsearchable.
27 For he draws up the drops of water;
they distill his (AM)mist in (AN)rain,
28 which (AO)the skies pour down
and drop on mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand (AP)the spreading of the clouds,
the thunderings of his (AQ)pavilion?
30 Behold, he scatters his lightning about him
and covers the roots of the sea.
31 For by these he (AR)judges peoples;
he gives (AS)food in abundance.
32 He covers his (AT)hands with the lightning
and commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its crashing declares his presence;[a]
the cattle also declare that he rises.
Footnotes
- Job 36:33 Hebrew declares concerning him
Job 36
Common English Bible
Reason for continuing
36 Continuing, Elihu said,
2 Wait a little while so I can demonstrate for you
that there is still something more to say about God.
3 I will draw from my broad knowledge,
attribute justice to my maker.
4 My words are certainly truthful;
one with total knowledge is present with you.
Divine discipline
5 Look, God is mighty and doesn’t reject anyone;
he is mighty in strength and mind.
6 He doesn’t let the wicked live,
but grants justice to the poor.
7 He doesn’t avert his eyes from the righteous;
he seats kings on thrones forever,
and they are lifted up.
8 If they are tied with ropes,
caught in cords of affliction,
9 he informs them about their offenses
and their grave sins.
10 He opens their ears with discipline
and commands them to turn from wrong.
11 If they listen and serve,
they spend their days in plenty,
their years contentedly.
12 But if they don’t listen,
they perish by the sword,
breathe their last without understanding.
13 Those with impious hearts become furious;
they don’t cry out even though he binds them.
14 They die young;
they are among the holy ones.
15 He saves the weak in their affliction,
opens their ears through oppression.
16 Surely he draws you up from the brink of trouble
to a wide place without distress;
your table is set with rich food.
17 You are overly concerned about the case of the wicked;
justice will be upheld in it.
18 Don’t let them lure you with wealth;
don’t let a huge bribe mislead you.
19 Will he arrange your rescue from distress
or from all your exertions of strength?
20 Don’t wish for the night
when people vanish from their place.
21 Take care; don’t turn to evil
because you’ve chosen it over affliction.
22 Look, God is inaccessible due to his power;
who is a teacher like him?
23 Who has repaid him for his action,
and who would ever say, “You’ve done wrong”?
24 Remember to praise his work
that all of us have seen.
25 Every person has seen him;
people can observe at great distance.
God’s control of the storm
26 Look, God is exalted and unknowable;
the number of his years is beyond counting.
27 He draws up drops of water
that distill rain from his flood;
28 the clouds pour moisture
and drip continually on humans.
29 Even if one perceives a spreading cloud
and the thunder of his pavilion,[a]
30 look how he spreads lightning across it
and covers the seabed;
31 for by water[b] he judges peoples
and gives food in abundance.
32 He conceals lightning in his palms
and orders it to its target.
33 His thunder announces it;
even cattle proclaim its rising.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible