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Job 36
English Standard Version
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
King James Version
Job 36
King James Version
36 Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
16 Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
33 The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
Job 36
Names of God Bible
Job 36
Names of God Bible
Elihu Continues: Hear Me Out
36 Elihu continued to speak to Job,
2 “Be patient with me a little longer, and I will show you
that there is more to be said in Eloah’s defense.
3 I will get my knowledge from far away
and prove that my Creator is fair.
4 Certainly, my words are not lies.
The one who knows everything is speaking with you.
God’s Justice Is Beyond Human Understanding
5 “Certainly, El is mighty.
He doesn’t despise anyone.
He is mighty and brave.
6 He doesn’t allow the wicked person to live.
He grants justice to those who are oppressed.
7 He doesn’t take his eyes off righteous people.
He seats them on thrones with kings to honor them forever.
8 However, if righteous people are bound in chains
and tangled in ropes of misery,
9 he tells them what they’ve done wrong
and that they’ve behaved arrogantly.
10 He makes them listen to his warning
and orders them to turn away from wrong.
11 “If righteous people listen and serve him,
they will live out their days in prosperity
and their years in comfort.
12 But if they don’t listen,
they will cross the River of Death
and die like those who have no knowledge.
13 But those who have godless hearts remain angry.
They don’t even call for help when he chains them up.
14 They die while they’re young,
or they live on as male prostitutes in the temples of idols.
15 He rescues suffering people through their suffering,
and he opens their ears through distress.
16 “Yes, he lured you away from the jaws of trouble
into an open area where you were not restrained,
and your table was covered with rich foods.
17 But you are given the judgment evil people deserve.
A fair judgment will be upheld.
18 Be careful that you are not led astray with riches.
Don’t let a large bribe turn you to evil ways.
19 Will your riches save you from having to suffer?
Will all your mighty strength help you?
20 Don’t look forward to the night,
when people disappear from their places.
21 Be careful! Don’t turn to evil,
because you have chosen evil instead of suffering.[a]
22 “El does great things by his power.
Is there any teacher like him?
23 Who can tell him which way he should go?
Who can say to him, ‘You did wrong’?
24 Remember that you should praise his work.
People have sung about it.
25 Every person has seen it.
Mortals have looked at it from a distance.
26 “Certainly, El is so great
that he is beyond our understanding.
The number of his years cannot be counted.
27 He collects drops of water.
He distills rain from his mist,
28 which then drips from the clouds.
It pours down on many people.
29 Can anyone really understand how clouds spread out
or how he thunders from his dwelling place?
30 Look, he scatters his flashes of lightning around him
and covers the depths of the sea.
31 This is how he uses the rains to provide for people
and to give them more than enough food.
32 He fills his hands with lightning
and orders it to hit the target.
33 The thunder announces his coming.
The storm announces his angry wrath.
Footnotes
- Job 36:21 Hebrew meaning of verses 17–21 uncertain. The first two words of verse 18 (in Hebrew) were added to the end of verse 17 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.
Job 36
Living Bible
Job 36
Living Bible
36 Elihu continued:
2 “Let me go on and I will show you the truth of what I am saying. For I have not finished defending God! 3 I will give you many illustrations of the righteousness of my Maker. 4 I am telling you the honest truth, for I am a man of well-rounded knowledge.
5 “God is almighty and yet does not despise anyone! And he is perfect in his understanding. 6 He does not reward the wicked with his blessings, but gives them their full share of punishment. 7 He does not ignore the good men but honors them by placing them upon eternal, kingly thrones. 8 If troubles come upon them and they are enslaved and afflicted, 9 then he takes the trouble to point out to them the reason, what they have done that is wrong, or how they have behaved proudly. 10 He helps them hear his instruction to turn away from their sin.
11 “If they listen and obey him, then they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. 12 If they won’t listen to him, they shall perish in battle and die because of their lack of good sense. 13 But the godless reap his anger. They do not even return to him when he punishes them. 14 They die young after lives of dissipation and depravity. 15 He delivers by distress! This makes them listen to him!
16 “How he wanted to lure you away from danger into a wide and pleasant valley and to prosper you there. 17 But you are too preoccupied with your imagined grievances against others. 18 Watch out! Don’t let your anger at others lead you into scoffing at God! Don’t let your suffering embitter you at the only one who can deliver you. 19 Do you really think that if you shout loudly enough against God, he will be ashamed and repent? Will this put an end to your chastisement?
20 “Do not desire the nighttime, with its opportunities for crime. 21 Turn back from evil, for it was to prevent you from getting into a life of evil that God sent this suffering.
22 “Look, God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him? 23 Who can say that what he does is absurd or evil? 24 Instead, glorify him for his mighty works for which he is so famous. 25 Everyone has seen these things from a distance.
26 “God is so great that we cannot begin to know him. No one can begin to understand eternity. 27 He draws up the water vapor and then distills it into rain, 28 which the skies pour down. 29 Can anyone really understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunders within? 30 See how he spreads the lightning around him, and blankets the tops of the mountains. 31 By his fantastic powers in nature he punishes or blesses the people, giving them food in abundance. 32 He fills his hands with lightning bolts. He hurls each at its target. 33 We feel his presence in the thunder. Even the cattle know when a storm is coming.
Job 36
New International Version
Job 36
New International Version
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;(A)
I will ascribe justice to my Maker.(B)
4 Be assured that my words are not false;(C)
one who has perfect knowledge(D) is with you.(E)
5 “God is mighty,(F) but despises no one;(G)
he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.(H)
6 He does not keep the wicked alive(I)
but gives the afflicted their rights.(J)
7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous;(K)
he enthrones them with kings(L)
and exalts them forever.(M)
8 But if people are bound in chains,(N)
held fast by cords of affliction,(O)
9 he tells them what they have done—
that they have sinned arrogantly.(P)
10 He makes them listen(Q) to correction(R)
and commands them to repent of their evil.(S)
11 If they obey and serve him,(T)
they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity(U)
and their years in contentment.(V)
12 But if they do not listen,
they will perish by the sword[a](W)
and die without knowledge.(X)
13 “The godless in heart(Y) harbor resentment;(Z)
even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.(AA)
14 They die in their youth,(AB)
among male prostitutes of the shrines.(AC)
15 But those who suffer(AD) he delivers in their suffering;(AE)
he speaks(AF) to them in their affliction.(AG)
16 “He is wooing(AH) you from the jaws of distress
to a spacious place(AI) free from restriction,(AJ)
to the comfort of your table(AK) laden with choice food.(AL)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;(AM)
judgment and justice have taken hold of you.(AN)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
do not let a large bribe(AO) turn you aside.(AP)
19 Would your wealth(AQ) or even all your mighty efforts
sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20 Do not long for the night,(AR)
to drag people away from their homes.[b]
21 Beware of turning to evil,(AS)
which you seem to prefer to affliction.(AT)
22 “God is exalted in his power.(AU)
Who is a teacher like him?(AV)
23 Who has prescribed his ways(AW) for him,(AX)
or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?(AY)
24 Remember to extol his work,(AZ)
which people have praised in song.(BA)
25 All humanity has seen it;(BB)
mortals gaze on it from afar.
26 How great is God—beyond our understanding!(BC)
The number of his years is past finding out.(BD)
27 “He draws up the drops of water,(BE)
which distill as rain to the streams[c];(BF)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
and abundant showers(BG) fall on mankind.(BH)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
how he thunders(BI) from his pavilion?(BJ)
30 See how he scatters his lightning(BK) about him,
bathing the depths of the sea.(BL)
31 This is the way he governs[d] the nations(BM)
and provides food(BN) in abundance.(BO)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
and commands it to strike its mark.(BP)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;(BQ)
even the cattle make known its approach.[e](BR)
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Names of God Bible (NOG)
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.
Living Bible (TLB)
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.