Job 36
Lexham English Bible
Elihu Extols God’s Greatness
36 Then[a] Elihu continued and said,
2 “Bear with me a little longer, and I will explain,[b]
for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.[c]
3 I will bring my knowledge from far away,
and I will ascribe righteousness to my maker,
4 for truly my words[d] are not falsehood;
one who has perfect knowledge is with you.[e]
5 Look, God is mighty but[f] does not despise anyone;
he is mighty and good in understanding.[g]
6 He does not keep the wicked alive
but[h] grants justice to the afflicted.
7 He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous,
but[i] he sets them forever with kings on the throne, and they are exalted.
8 “And if they are tied up with fetters,
if they are caught in the cords of misery,
9 then[j] he declares their work to them,
and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.
10 So[k] he opens their ear to the discipline,
and he commands that they return from mischief.
11 If they listen and serve him,
they complete their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness.
12 But[l] if they do not listen, they perish by the sword,
and they pass away without knowledge.
13 And the godless of heart cherish anger;
they do not cry for help when he binds them.
14 They die in their youth,[m]
and their life ends among the male shrine prostitutes.
15 He delivers the afflicted by his misery,
and he opens their ears by the adversity.
16 And what’s more, he allured you out of distress[n]
into a broad place, where in place of it was no constraint;
and what was set on your table is full of fatness.
17 But[o] you are obsessed with the judgment of the wicked;
judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Yes,[p] it is wrath, so that it will not incite you into mockery;
and do not let the ransom’s greatness turn you aside.
19 Will your cry for help sustain you without distress,
or[q] all the efforts of your strength?
20 You must not long for the night,
to cut off people in their place.[r]
21 Take care, you must not turn to mischief,
for because of this you have been tried by misery.
22 “Look, God is exalted in his power;
who is a teacher like him?
23 Who has prescribed his way for him?
Or[s] who says, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 Remember that you should extol his work,
of which people have sung.
25 All human beings have looked on it;
everyone watches from afar.
26 “Look, God is exalted, and we do not know him;
the number of his years is unsearchable.
27 Indeed, he draws up the drops of water;
he distills the rain into its mist,
28 which the clouds pour down;
they shower abundantly on human beings.
29 “Moreover, can anyone understand[t] the spreading of clouds,
the thundering of his dwelling place?
30 Look, he scatters his lightning around him,
and he covers the roots of the sea.
31 Indeed, he judges people by them;
he gives food in abundance.[u]
32 He covers his hands with lightning,
and he commands it the place at which to strike.
33 His thundering tells about him;
the livestock also tell concerning what rises.[v]
Footnotes
- Job 36:1 Hebrew “And”
- Job 36:2 Literally “I will show you”
- Job 36:2 Literally “yet on behalf of God words/sentences”
- Job 36:4 Or “what I have to say”
- Job 36:4 In other words, “Somebody who knows what he is talking about is addressing you”
- Job 36:5 Hebrew “and”
- Job 36:5 Literally “strength of heart”
- Job 36:6 Hebrew “and”
- Job 36:7 Hebrew “and”
- Job 36:9 Hebrew “and”
- Job 36:10 Hebrew “And”
- Job 36:12 Hebrew “And”
- Job 36:14 Literally “It dies in the youth of their self”
- Job 36:16 Literally “from the mouth of distress”
- Job 36:17 Hebrew “And”
- Job 36:18 Or “Indeed”
- Job 36:19 Hebrew “and”
- Job 36:20 Literally “in place of them”
- Job 36:23 Hebrew “And”
- Job 36:29 Literally “if he can understand”
- Job 36:31 Literally “as far as providing in abundance”
- Job 36:33 Literally “about going up”
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.
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