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.
Job 36
International Standard Version
Elihu Concludes His Arguments
36 Elihu responded again and said:
2 “Be patient with me a moment longer,
and I’ll show you that there’s more to say on God’s behalf.
3 I’ll take what I know to its logical conclusion[a]
and ascribe righteousness to my Creator,
4 because what I have to say isn’t deceptive,
and the one who has perfect knowledge is with you.”
God Disciplines
5 “Indeed God is mighty and he doesn’t show disrespect;
he is mighty and strong of heart.
6 He doesn’t let the wicked live;
he grants justice to the afflicted.
7 He won’t stop looking at righteous people;
he seats them on thrones with kings forever,
and they are exalted.
8 “If they’re bound in chains,
caught in ropes of affliction,
9 he’ll reveal their actions to them,
when their transgressions have become excessive.
10 He opens their ears and instructs them,
commanding them to repent from evil.
11 If they listen and serve him,[b]
they’ll finish[c] their lives in prosperity
and their years will be pleasant.
12 “But if they won’t listen,
they’ll perish[d] by the sword
and die in their ignorance.
13 The godless at heart cherish[e] anger;
they won’t cry out for help when God[f] afflicts[g] them.
14 They[h] die in their youth;
and their life will end[i] among temple prostitutes.
15 He’ll deliver the afflicted through their afflictions
and open their ears when they are oppressed.”
God is an All-Powerful and Just Teacher
16 “Indeed, he drew you away from the brink of distress
to a spacious place without constraints,
filling your festive[j] table with bountiful[k] food.
17 But now you are occupied with the case of the wicked;
but justice and judgment will be served.
18 So that no one entices you with riches,
don’t let a large ransom turn you astray.
19 “Will your wealth sustain you when you’re in distress,
despite your most powerful efforts?[l]
20 Don’t long for night,
when people vanish[m] in their place.
21 Be careful! Don’t turn to evil,
because of this you will be tried by more than affliction.
22 “Indeed, God is exalted in his power.
Who is like him as a teacher?
23 Who ordained his path for him,
and who has asked him, ‘You are wrong, aren’t you?’
24 Remember to magnify his awesome activities,
about which mortal man has sung.
25 All of mankind sees him;
human beings observe him from afar off.”
God Controls the Weather
26 “God is truly awesome, beyond what we know;
the number of his years is unknowable.[n]
27 He draws up drops of water,
distilling it to rain and mist.[o]
28 When the clouds pour down;[p]
they drop their rain on all of humanity.
29 “Furthermore, can anyone understand cloud patterns,
or the thundering in his pavilion?
30 He scatters his lightning above it,
and covers the bottom[q] of the sea.
31 He uses them to judge some people
and give food to many.
32 His hands are covered with lightning
that he commands to strike his designated target.
33 His thunder[r] declares his presence;
and tells the animals what is coming.”
Footnotes
- Job 36:3 Lit. I’ll bring my knowledge from a long ways away
- Job 36:11 The Heb. lacks him
- Job 36:11 Or finish
- Job 36:12 Lit. by the sword they’ll pass through
- Job 36:13 Lit. lay up
- Job 36:13 Lit. he
- Job 36:13 Lit. binds
- Job 36:14 Lit. Their souls
- Job 36:14 The Heb. lacks will end
- Job 36:16 Lit. restful
- Job 36:16 Lit. fat
- Job 36:19 Or your force of strength
- Job 36:20 Lit. go up
- Job 36:26 Or unreachable
- Job 36:27 Or distilling rain into mist
- Job 36:28 Or drops
- Job 36:30 Or root
- Job 36:33 Lit. shout
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