Job 36New 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
Thatthere areyet 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 wordsarenot false;
One who is perfect in knowledgeiswith you.
5 “Behold, Godismighty, but despisesno one;
(A)He ismighty 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 areon the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever,
And they are exalted.
8 And(E)ifthey arebound 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 serveHim,
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 lifeendsamong 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)Intoa broad place wherethere isno restraint;
And(L)what is set on your tablewould befull of(M)richness.
17 But you are filled with the judgment due the(N)wicked;
Judgment and justice take holdof you.
18 Becausethere iswrath,bewarelest He take you away withoneblow;
For(O)a large ransom would not help you avoidit.
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 onitfrom afar.
26 “Behold, Godisgreat, and we(V)do not knowHim;
(W)Nor can the number of His yearsbediscovered.
27 For He(X)draws up drops of water,
Which distill as rain from the mist,
28 (Y)Which the clouds drop down
Andpour abundantly on man.
29 Indeed, cananyoneunderstand 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 coversHishands with lightning,
And commands it to[h]strike.
33 (AD)His thunder declares it,
The cattle also, concerning[i]the risingstorm.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Bible Gateway Recommends
