Job 36-38
New American Standard Bible 1995
Elihu Speaks of God’s Dealings with Men
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 fetch my knowledge from afar,
And I will ascribe (A)righteousness to my Maker.
4 “For truly (B)my words are not false;
One who is (C)perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty but does not (D)despise any;
He is (E)mighty in strength of understanding.
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 instruction,
And (M)commands that they return from evil.
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 [b]perish (P)by the sword
And they will (Q)die 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 [e]in 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 that which was set on your table was full of [f]fatness.
17 “But you were full of (V)judgment on the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 “Beware that (W)wrath does not entice you to scoffing;
And do not let the greatness of the (X)ransom turn you aside.
19 “Will your [g]riches keep you from distress,
Or all the forces of your strength?
20 “Do not long for (Y)the night,
When people [h]vanish in their place.
21 “Be careful, do (Z)not turn to evil,
For you have preferred 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 done wrong’?
24 “Remember that you should (AD)exalt His work,
Of which men have (AE)sung.
25 “All men have seen it;
Man beholds 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 from [i]the [j]mist,
28 Which the clouds pour down,
They drip upon man abundantly.
29 “Can anyone understand 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)noise declares [n]His presence;
The cattle also, concerning what is coming up.
Elihu Says God Is Back of the Storm
37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
2 “Listen closely to the (AP)thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.
3 “Under the whole heaven He lets it loose,
And His [o]lightning to the (AQ)ends of the earth.
4 “After it, a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain [p]the lightnings when His voice is heard.
5 “God (AR)thunders with His voice wondrously,
Doing (AS)great things which we cannot comprehend.
6 “For to (AT)the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
And to the [q](AU)downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’
7 “He (AV)seals the hand of every man,
That (AW)all men may know His work.
8 “Then the beast goes into its (AX)lair
And remains in its [r]den.
9 “Out of the [s](AY)south comes the storm,
And out of the [t]north the cold.
10 “From the breath of God (AZ)ice is made,
And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
11 “Also with moisture He (BA)loads the thick cloud;
He (BB)disperses (BC)the cloud of His [u]lightning.
12 “It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
That [v]it may do whatever He (BD)commands [w]it
On the (BE)face of the inhabited earth.
13 “Whether for [x](BF)correction, or for (BG)His world,
Or for (BH)lovingkindness, He causes it to [y]happen.
14 “Listen to this, O Job,
Stand and consider the wonders of God.
15 “Do you know how God establishes them,
And makes the [z]lightning of His cloud to shine?
16 “Do you know about the layers of the thick clouds,
The (BI)wonders of one (BJ)perfect in knowledge,
17 You whose garments are hot,
When the land is still because of the south wind?
18 “Can you, with Him, (BK)spread out the skies,
Strong as a molten mirror?
19 “Teach us what we shall say to Him;
We (BL)cannot arrange our case because of darkness.
20 “Shall it be told Him that I would speak?
[aa]Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?
21 “Now [ab]men do not see the light which is bright in the skies;
But the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 “Out of the north comes golden splendor;
Around God is awesome majesty.
23 “The Almighty—(BM)we cannot find Him;
He is (BN)exalted in power
And (BO)He will not do violence (BP)to justice and abundant righteousness.
24 “Therefore men (BQ)fear Him;
He does not (BR)regard any who are wise of heart.”
God Speaks Now to Job
38 Then the Lord (BS)answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
2 “Who is this that (BT)darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
3 “Now (BU)gird up your loins like a man,
And (BV)I will ask you, and you instruct Me!
4 “Where were you (BW)when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you [ac]have understanding,
5 Who set its (BX)measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the line on it?
6 “On what (BY)were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together
And all the (BZ)sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or who (CA)enclosed the sea with doors
When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;
9 When I made a cloud its garment
And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 And I [ad](CB)placed boundaries on it
And set a bolt and doors,
11 And I said, ‘Thus far you shall come, but no farther;
And here shall your proud waves stop’?
God’s Mighty Power
12 “Have you [ae]ever in your life commanded the morning,
And caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of (CC)the ends of the earth,
And (CD)the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 “It is changed like clay under the seal;
And they stand forth like a garment.
15 “(CE)From the wicked their light is withheld,
And the (CF)uplifted arm is broken.
16 “Have you entered into (CG)the springs of the sea
Or walked [af]in the recesses of the deep?
17 “Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
Or have you seen the gates of (CH)deep darkness?
18 “Have you understood the [ag]expanse of (CI)the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all this.
19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light?
And darkness, where is its place,
20 That you may take it to (CJ)its territory
And that you may discern the paths to its [ah]home?
21 “You know, for (CK)you were born then,
And the number of your days is great!
22 “Have you entered the storehouses (CL)of the snow,
Or have you seen the storehouses of the (CM)hail,
23 Which I have reserved for the time of distress,
For the day of war and battle?
24 “Where is the way that (CN)the light is divided,
Or the east wind scattered on the earth?
25 “Who has cleft a channel for the flood,
Or a way for the thunderbolt,
26 To bring (CO)rain on a land without [ai]people,
On a desert without a man in it,
27 To (CP)satisfy the waste and desolate land
And to make the [aj]seeds of grass to sprout?
28 “Has (CQ)the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 “From whose womb has come the (CR)ice?
And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?
30 “Water [ak]becomes hard like stone,
And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.
31 “Can you bind the chains of the (CS)Pleiades,
Or loose the cords of Orion?
32 “Can you lead forth a [al]constellation in its season,
And guide the Bear with her [am]satellites?
33 “Do you know the (CT)ordinances of the heavens,
Or fix their rule over the earth?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
So that an (CU)abundance of water will cover you?
35 “Can you (CV)send forth lightnings that they may go
And say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 “Who has (CW)put wisdom in the innermost being
Or given (CX)understanding to the [an]mind?
37 “Who can count the clouds by wisdom,
Or (CY)tip the water jars of the heavens,
38 When the dust hardens into a mass
And the clods stick together?
39 “Can you hunt the (CZ)prey for the lion,
Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they (DA)crouch in their dens
And lie in wait in their lair?
41 “Who prepares for (DB)the raven its nourishment
When its young cry to God
And wander about without food?
Footnotes
- Job 36:2 Lit are yet words for God
- Job 36:12 Lit pass away
- Job 36:14 Or Their soul dies
- Job 36:15 Lit his
- Job 36:15 Or in adversity
- Job 36:16 Or rich food
- Job 36:19 Or cry
- Job 36:20 Lit go up
- Job 36:27 Lit its
- Job 36:27 Or flood
- Job 36:29 Lit booth
- Job 36:30 Lit light
- Job 36:32 Lit light
- Job 36:33 Lit concerning Him
- Job 37:3 Lit light
- Job 37:4 Lit them
- Job 37:6 Lit shower of rain and shower of rains
- Job 37:8 Lit dens
- Job 37:9 Lit chamber
- Job 37:9 Lit scattering winds
- Job 37:11 Lit light
- Job 37:12 Lit they
- Job 37:12 Lit them
- Job 37:13 Lit the rod
- Job 37:13 Lit be found
- Job 37:15 Lit light
- Job 37:20 Or If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up
- Job 37:21 Lit they
- Job 38:4 Lit know understanding
- Job 38:10 Lit broke My decree on it
- Job 38:12 Lit from your days
- Job 38:16 Or in search of
- Job 38:18 Or width
- Job 38:20 Lit house
- Job 38:26 Lit man
- Job 38:27 Or growth
- Job 38:30 Lit hides itself
- Job 38:32 Heb Mazzaroth
- Job 38:32 Lit sons
- Job 38:36 Or rooster
2 Corinthians 9
New American Standard Bible 1995
God Gives Most
9 For (A)it is superfluous for me to write to you about this (B)ministry to the [a]saints; 2 for I know your readiness, of which I (C)boast about you to the (D)Macedonians, namely, that (E)Achaia has been prepared since (F)last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I have sent the brethren, in order that our (G)boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, (H)as I was saying, you may be prepared; 4 otherwise if any (I)Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you—will be put to shame by this confidence. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the (J)brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised [b](K)bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a [c](L)bountiful gift and not [d](M)affected by covetousness.
6 Now this I say, (N)he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows [e]bountifully will also reap [f]bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not (O)grudgingly or under compulsion, for (P)God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And (Q)God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written,
10 Now He who supplies (S)seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and (T)increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be (U)enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing (V)thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying (W)the needs of the [h]saints, but is also overflowing (X)through many thanksgivings to God. 13 Because of the proof given by this (Y)ministry, they will (Z)glorify God for your obedience to your (AA)confession of the (AB)gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your [i]contribution to them and to all, 14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 (AC)Thanks be to God for His indescribable (AD)gift!
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 9:1 Or holy ones
- 2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit blessing
- 2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit blessing
- 2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit as covetousness
- 2 Corinthians 9:6 Lit with blessings
- 2 Corinthians 9:6 Lit with blessings
- 2 Corinthians 9:9 Lit abides
- 2 Corinthians 9:12 Or holy ones
- 2 Corinthians 9:13 Or sharing with them
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
