Job 36-40
New King James Version
Elihu Proclaims God’s Goodness
36 Elihu also proceeded and said:
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you
That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar;
I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false;
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one;
(A)He is mighty in strength [a]of understanding.
6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked,
But gives justice to the (B)oppressed.
7 (C)He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But (D)they are on the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever,
And they are exalted.
8 And (E)if they are bound in [b]fetters,
Held in the cords of affliction,
9 Then He tells them their work and their transgressions—
That they have acted [c]defiantly.
10 (F)He also opens their ear to [d]instruction,
And commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him,
They shall (G)spend their days in prosperity,
And their years in pleasures.
12 But if they do not obey,
They shall perish by the sword,
And they shall die [e]without (H)knowledge.
13 “But the hypocrites in heart (I)store up wrath;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 (J)They[f] die in youth,
And their life ends among the [g]perverted persons.
15 He delivers the poor in their affliction,
And opens their ears in oppression.
16 “Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress,
(K)Into a broad place where there is no restraint;
And (L)what is set on your table would be full of (M)richness.
17 But you are filled with the judgment due the (N)wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow;
For (O)a large ransom would not help you avoid it.
19 (P)Will your riches,
Or all the mighty forces,
Keep you from distress?
20 Do not desire the night,
When people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, (Q)do not turn to iniquity,
For (R)you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 “Behold, God is exalted by His power;
Who teaches like Him?
23 (S)Who has assigned Him His way,
Or who has said, ‘You have done (T)wrong’?
Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty
24 “Remember to (U)magnify His work,
Of which men have sung.
25 Everyone has seen it;
Man looks on it from afar.
26 “Behold, God is great, and we (V)do not know Him;
(W)Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
27 For He (X)draws up drops of water,
Which distill as rain from the mist,
28 (Y)Which the clouds drop down
And pour abundantly on man.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds,
The thunder from His canopy?
30 Look, He (Z)scatters His light upon it,
And covers the depths of the sea.
31 For (AA)by these He judges the peoples;
He (AB)gives food in abundance.
32 (AC)He covers His hands with lightning,
And commands it to [h]strike.
33 (AD)His thunder declares it,
The cattle also, concerning [i]the rising storm.
God’s Works and Wisdom
37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
2 Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3 He sends it forth under the whole heaven,
His [j]lightning to the ends of the earth.
4 After it (AE)a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
5 God thunders marvelously with His voice;
(AF)He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
6 For (AG)He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;
Likewise to the [k]gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
7 He seals the hand of every man,
(AH)That (AI)all men may know His work.
8 The beasts (AJ)go into dens,
And remain in their lairs.
9 From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind,
And cold from the scattering winds of the north.
10 (AK)By the breath of God ice is given,
And the broad waters are frozen.
11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds;
He scatters His [l]bright clouds.
12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance,
That they may (AL)do whatever He commands them
On the face of [m]the whole earth.
13 (AM)He causes it to come,
Whether for [n]correction,
Or (AN)for His land,
Or (AO)for mercy.
14 “Listen to this, O Job;
Stand still and (AP)consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know when God [o]dispatches them,
And causes the light of His cloud to shine?
16 (AQ)Do you know how the clouds are balanced,
Those wondrous works of (AR)Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 Why are your garments hot,
When He quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 With Him, have you (AS)spread out the (AT)skies,
Strong as a cast metal mirror?
19 “Teach us what we should say to Him,
For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
20 Should He be told that I wish to speak?
If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.
21 Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies,
When the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 He comes from the north as golden splendor;
With God is awesome majesty.
23 As for the Almighty, (AU)we cannot find Him;
(AV)He is excellent in power,
In judgment and abundant justice;
He does not oppress.
24 Therefore men (AW)fear Him;
He shows no partiality to any who are (AX)wise of heart.”
The Lord Reveals His Omnipotence to Job(AY)
38 Then the Lord answered Job (AZ)out of the whirlwind, and said:
2 “Who(BA) is this who darkens counsel
By (BB)words without knowledge?
3 (BC)Now [p]prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
4 “Where(BD) were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the [q]line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together,
And all (BE)the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or(BF) who shut in the sea with doors,
When it burst forth and issued from the womb;
9 When I made the clouds its garment,
And thick darkness its swaddling band;
10 When (BG)I fixed My limit for it,
And set bars and doors;
11 When I said,
‘This far you may come, but no farther,
And here your proud waves (BH)must stop!’
12 “Have you (BI)commanded the morning since your days began,
And caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
And (BJ)the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 It takes on form like clay under a seal,
And stands out like a garment.
15 From the wicked their (BK)light is withheld,
And (BL)the [r]upraised arm is broken.
16 “Have you (BM)entered the springs of the sea?
Or have you walked in search of the depths?
17 Have (BN)the gates of death been [s]revealed to you?
Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you comprehended the breadth of 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 its territory,
That you may know the paths to its home?
21 Do you know it, because you were born then,
Or because the number of your days is great?
22 “Have you entered (BO)the treasury of snow,
Or have you seen the treasury of hail,
23 (BP)Which I have reserved for the time of trouble,
For the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is light [t]diffused,
Or the east wind scattered over the earth?
25 “Who (BQ)has divided a channel for the overflowing water,
Or a path for the thunderbolt,
26 To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one,
A wilderness in which there is no man;
27 (BR)To satisfy the desolate waste,
And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?
28 (BS)Has the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
And the (BT)frost of heaven, who gives it birth?
30 The waters harden like stone,
And the surface of the deep is (BU)frozen.[u]
31 “Can you bind the cluster of the (BV)Pleiades,[v]
Or loose the belt of Orion?
32 Can you bring out [w]Mazzaroth in its season?
Or can you guide [x]the Great Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know (BW)the ordinances of the heavens?
Can you set their dominion over the earth?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
That an abundance of water may cover you?
35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go,
And say to you, ‘Here we are!’?
36 (BX)Who has put wisdom in [y]the mind?
Or who has given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust hardens in clumps,
And the clods cling together?
39 “Can(BY) you hunt the prey for the lion,
Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they crouch in their dens,
Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?
41 (BZ)Who provides food for the raven,
When its young ones cry to God,
And wander about for lack of food?
God Continues to Challenge Job
39 “Do you know the time when the wild (CA)mountain goats bear young?
Or can you mark when (CB)the deer gives birth?
2 Can you number the months that they fulfill?
Or do you know the time when they bear young?
3 They bow down,
They bring forth their young,
They deliver their [z]offspring.
4 Their young ones are healthy,
They grow strong with grain;
They depart and do not return to them.
5 “Who set the wild donkey free?
Who loosed the bonds of the [aa]onager,
6 (CC)Whose home I have made the wilderness,
And the [ab]barren land his dwelling?
7 He scorns the tumult of the city;
He does not heed the shouts of the driver.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture,
And he searches after (CD)every green thing.
9 “Will the (CE)wild ox be willing to serve you?
Will he bed by your manger?
10 Can you bind the wild ox in the furrow with ropes?
Or will he plow the valleys behind you?
11 Will you trust him because his strength is great?
Or will you leave your labor to him?
12 Will you trust him to bring home your [ac]grain,
And gather it to your threshing floor?
13 “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly,
But are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork’s?
14 For she leaves her eggs on the ground,
And warms them in the dust;
15 She forgets that a foot may crush them,
Or that a wild beast may break them.
16 She (CF)treats her young harshly, as though they were not hers;
Her labor is in vain, without [ad]concern,
17 Because God deprived her of wisdom,
And did not (CG)endow her with understanding.
18 When she lifts herself on high,
She scorns the horse and its rider.
19 “Have you given the horse strength?
Have you clothed his neck with [ae]thunder?
20 Can you [af]frighten him like a locust?
His majestic snorting strikes terror.
21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
(CH)He gallops into the clash of arms.
22 He mocks at fear, and is not frightened;
Nor does he turn back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattles against him,
The glittering spear and javelin.
24 He devours the distance with fierceness and rage;
Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.
25 At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’
He smells the battle from afar,
The thunder of captains and shouting.
26 “Does the hawk fly by your wisdom,
And spread its wings toward the south?
27 Does the (CI)eagle mount up at your command,
And (CJ)make its nest on high?
28 On the rock it dwells and resides,
On the crag of the rock and the stronghold.
29 From there it spies out the prey;
Its eyes observe from afar.
30 Its young ones suck up blood;
And (CK)where the slain are, there it is.”
God’s Power and Wisdom
40 Moreover the Lord (CL)answered Job, and said:
2 “Shall (CM)the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who (CN)rebukes God, let him answer it.”
Job’s Response to God
3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
4 “Behold,(CO) I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
(CP)I lay my hand over my mouth.
5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”
God’s Challenge to Job
6 (CQ)Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
8 “Would(CT) you indeed [ah]annul My judgment?
Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
9 Have you an arm like God?
Or can you thunder with (CU)a voice like His?
10 (CV)Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,
And array yourself with glory and beauty.
11 Disperse the rage of your wrath;
Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.
12 Look on everyone who is (CW)proud, and bring him low;
Tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together,
Bind their faces in hidden darkness.
14 Then I will also confess to you
That your own right hand can save you.
15 “Look now at the [ai]behemoth, which I made along with you;
He eats grass like an ox.
16 See now, his strength is in his hips,
And his power is in his stomach muscles.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar;
The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
18 His bones are like beams of bronze,
His ribs like bars of iron.
19 He is the first of the (CX)ways of God;
Only He who made him can bring near His sword.
20 Surely the mountains (CY)yield food for him,
And all the beasts of the field play there.
21 He lies under the lotus trees,
In a covert of reeds and marsh.
22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade;
The willows by the brook surround him.
23 Indeed the river may rage,
Yet he is not disturbed;
He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth,
24 Though he takes it in his eyes,
Or one pierces his nose with a snare.
Footnotes
- Job 36:5 of heart
- Job 36:8 chains
- Job 36:9 proudly
- Job 36:10 discipline
- Job 36:12 MT as one without knowledge
- Job 36:14 Lit. Their soul dies
- Job 36:14 Heb. qedeshim, those practicing sodomy or prostitution in religious rituals
- Job 36:32 strike the mark
- Job 36:33 Lit. what is rising
- Job 37:3 Or light
- Job 37:6 Lit. shower of rain
- Job 37:11 clouds of light
- Job 37:12 Lit. the world of the earth
- Job 37:13 Lit. a rod
- Job 37:15 places them
- Job 38:3 Lit. gird up your loins like
- Job 38:5 measuring line
- Job 38:15 Lit. high
- Job 38:17 Lit. opened
- Job 38:24 Lit. divided
- Job 38:30 Lit. imprisoned
- Job 38:31 Or the Seven Stars
- Job 38:32 Lit. Constellations
- Job 38:32 Or Arcturus
- Job 38:36 Lit. the inward parts
- Job 39:3 Lit. pangs
- Job 39:5 A species of wild donkey
- Job 39:6 Lit. salt land
- Job 39:12 Lit. seed
- Job 39:16 Lit. fear
- Job 39:19 Or a mane
- Job 39:20 make him spring
- Job 40:7 Lit. gird up your loins
- Job 40:8 nullify
- Job 40:15 A large animal, exact identity unknown
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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