Job 36
36
1And 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.
3I will fetch my knowledge from afar,
and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4For truly my words are not false;
one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5“Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any;
he is mighty in strength of understanding.
6He does not keep the wicked alive,
but gives the afflicted their right.
7He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous,
but with kings upon the throne
he sets them for ever, and they are exalted.
8And if they are bound in fetters
and caught in the cords of affliction,
9then he declares to them their work
and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.
10He opens their ears to instruction,
and commands that they return from iniquity.
11If they hearken and serve him,
they complete their days in prosperity,
and their years in pleasantness.
12But if they do not hearken, they perish by the sword,
and die without knowledge.
13“The godless in heart cherish anger;
they do not cry for help when he binds them.
14They die in youth,
and their life ends in shame.#36.14 Heb among the cult prostitutes
15He delivers the afflicted by their affliction,
and opens their ear by adversity.
16He also allured you out of distress
into a broad place where there was no cramping,
and what was set on your table was full of fatness.
17“But you are full of the judgment on the wicked;
judgment and justice seize you.
18Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing;
and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.
19Will your cry avail to keep you from distress,
or all the force of your strength?
20Do not long for the night,
when peoples are cut off in their place.
21Take heed, do not turn to iniquity,
for this you have chosen rather than affliction.
22Behold, God is exalted in his power;
who is a teacher like him?
23Who has prescribed for him his way,
or who can say, ‘Thou hast done wrong’?
24“Remember to extol his work,
of which men have sung.
25All men have looked on it;
man beholds it from afar.
26Behold, God is great, and we know him not;
the number of his years is unsearchable.
27For he draws up the drops of water,
he#36.27 Cn: Heb they distil distils his mist in rain
28which the skies pour down,
and drop upon man abundantly.
29Can any one understand the spreading of the clouds,
the thunderings of his pavilion?
30Behold, he scatters his lightning about him,
and covers the roots of the sea.
31For by these he judges peoples;
he gives food in abundance.
32He covers his hands with the lightning,
and commands it to strike the mark.
33Its crashing declares concerning him,
who is jealous with anger against iniquity.
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Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
Job 36
36
Elihu Continues: Hear Me Out
1Elihu 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 God’s defense.
3I will get my knowledge from far away
and prove that my Creator is fair.
4Certainly, my words are not lies.
The one who knows everything is ⌞speaking⌟ with you.
God’s Justice Is Beyond Human Understanding
5“Certainly, God is mighty.
He doesn’t despise anyone.
He is mighty and brave.
6He doesn’t allow the wicked person to live.
He grants justice to those who are oppressed.
7He doesn’t take his eyes off righteous people.
He seats them on thrones with kings to honor them forever.
8However, if righteous people are bound in chains
and tangled in ropes of misery,
9he tells them what they’ve done wrong
and that they’ve behaved arrogantly.
10He 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.
12But if they don’t listen,
they will cross the River ⌞of Death⌟
and die like those who have no knowledge.
13But those who have godless hearts remain angry.
They don’t even call for help when he chains them up.
14They die while they’re young,
or they live on as male prostitutes in the temples of idols.
15He 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.
17But you are given the judgment evil people deserve.
A fair judgment will be upheld.
18Be careful that you are not led astray with riches.
Don’t let a large bribe turn you ⌞to evil ways⌟.
19Will your riches save you from having to suffer?
Will all your mighty strength help you?
20Don’t look forward to the night,
when people disappear from their places.
21Be careful! Don’t turn to evil,
because you have chosen evil instead of suffering.
22“God does great things by his power.
Is there any teacher like him?
23Who can tell him which way he should go?
Who can say to him, ‘You did wrong’?
24Remember that you should praise his work.
People have sung about it.
25Every person has seen it.
Mortals have looked at it from a distance.
26“Certainly, God is so great
that he is beyond our understanding.
The number of his years cannot be counted.
27He collects drops of water.
He distills rain from his mist,
28which then drips from the clouds.
It pours down on many people.
29Can anyone really understand how clouds spread out
or how he thunders from his dwelling place?
30Look, he scatters his flashes of lightning around him
and covers the depths of the sea.
31This is how he uses the rains to provide for people
and to give them more than enough food.
32He fills his hands with lightning
and orders it to hit the target.
33The thunder announces his coming.
The storm announces his angry wrath.
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