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Job 36
International Standard Version
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
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)
International Standard Version (ISV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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