Job 36

Job 36 – New International Version (NIV)

1. 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; I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
4. Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.
5. “God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.
6. He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights.
7. He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
8. But if people are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction,
9. he tells them what they have done— that they have sinned arrogantly.
10. He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.
11. If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.
12. But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword^[a] and die without knowledge.
13. “The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.
14. They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines.
15. But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.
16. “He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.
17. But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you.
18. Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.
19. Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20. Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes.^[b]
21. Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.
22. “God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
23. Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?
24. Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song.
25. All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar.
26. How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.
27. “He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams^[c];
28. the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.
29. Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?
30. See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.
31. This is the way he governs^[d] the nations and provides food in abundance.
32. He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
33. His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach.^[e]

Footnotes

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Job 36 – King James Version (KJV)

1. Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2. Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee That I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.
3. I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4. For truly my words shall not be false: He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5. Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength and wisdom.
6. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: But giveth right to the poor.
7. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings are they on the throne; Yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
8. And if they be bound in fetters, And be holden in cords of affliction;
9. Then he sheweth them their work, And their transgressions that they have exceeded.
10. He openeth also their ear to discipline, And commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11. If they obey and serve him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.
12. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.
13. But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: They cry not when he bindeth them.
14. They die in youth, And their life is among the unclean.
15. He delivereth the poor in his affliction, And openeth their ears in oppression.
16. Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
17. But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold on thee.
18. Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: Then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
19. Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, Nor all the forces of strength.
20. Desire not the night, When people are cut off in their place.
21. Take heed, regard not iniquity: For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
22. Behold, God exalteth by his power: Who teacheth like him?
23. Who hath enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
24. Remember that thou magnify his work, Which men behold.
25. Every man may see it; Man may behold it afar off.
26. Behold, God is great, and we know him not, Neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27. For he maketh small the drops of water: They pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
28. Which the clouds do drop And distil upon man abundantly.
29. Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, Or the noise of his tabernacle?
30. Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, And covereth the bottom of the sea.
31. For by them judgeth he the people; He giveth meat in abundance.
32. With clouds he covereth the light; And commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
33. The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, The cattle also concerning the vapour.