Job 36

Elihu Extols God's Greatness

1 And 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.
 3 I will get my knowledge from o afar
and ascribe p righteousness to my q Maker.
 4 For truly my words are not false;
one who is r perfect in knowledge is with you.

5 "Behold, God is mighty, and s does not despise any;
he is t mighty in strength of understanding.
 6 He does not keep the wicked alive,
but gives u the afflicted their right.
 7 He does not withdraw his v eyes from the righteous,
but with w kings on the throne
he sets them forever, and they are x exalted.
 8 And if they are y bound in chains
and caught in the cords of affliction,
 9 then he declares to them their work
and their transgressions, that they are z behaving arrogantly.
 10 He a opens their ears to instruction
and commands that they b return from iniquity.
 11 c If they listen and serve him,
they d complete their days in prosperity,
and their years in pleasantness.
 12 But if they do not listen, they e perish by the sword
and die f without knowledge.

13 "The g godless in heart cherish anger;
they do not cry for help when he h binds them.
 14 They i die in youth,
and their life ends among the cult prostitutes.
 15 He delivers j the afflicted by their affliction
and k opens their ear by adversity.
 16 He also allured you out of distress
into l a broad place where there was no cramping,
and what was set on your m table was full of n fatness.

17 "But you are full of the judgment on the wicked;
judgment and justice seize you.
 18 Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing,
and let not the greatness of o the ransom turn you aside.
 19 Will your p cry for help avail to keep you from distress,
or all the force of your strength?
 20 Do not long for q the night,
when peoples vanish r in their place.
 21 Take care; s do not turn to iniquity,
for this you have chosen rather than affliction.
 22 Behold, God is exalted in his power;
who is t a teacher like him?
 23 Who has u prescribed for him his way,
or who can say, v 'You have done wrong'?

24 "Remember to w extol his work,
of which men have x sung.
 25 All mankind has looked on it;
man beholds it from afar.
 26 Behold, God is great, and we y know him not;
the number of his z years is unsearchable.
 27 For he draws up the drops of water;
they distill his a mist in b rain,
 28 which c the skies pour down
and drop on mankind abundantly.
 29 Can anyone understand d the spreading of the clouds,
the thunderings of his e pavilion?
 30 Behold, he scatters his lightning about him
and covers the roots of the sea.
 31 For by these he f judges peoples;
he gives g food in abundance.
 32 He covers his h hands with the lightning
and commands it to strike the mark.
 33 Its crashing declares his presence; 1
the cattle also declare that he rises.

  1. Cross References
    Psalms 78:2
    I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old.
  2. Cross References
    Revelation 15:3 - 4
    And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!
    Revelation 16:5
    And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, "Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments.
    Revelation 16:7
    And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!
    Revelation 19:1 - 2
    After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.
  3. Cross References
    Job 35:10
    But none says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night.
  4. Cross References
    Job 37:16
    Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge.
  5. Cross References
    Job 8:20
    Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers.
    Psalms 138:6
    For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
  6. Cross References
    Job 9:4
    He is wise in heart and mighty in strength - who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded? -
    Job 12:13
    With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.
    Job 12:16
    With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
  7. Cross References
    Job 36:15
    He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity.
    Job 34:28
    So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted -
  8. Cross References
    Psalms 33:18
    Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love.
    Psalms 34:15
    The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
  9. Cross References
    Psalms 132:12
    If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne.
    Psalms 113:8
    To make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.
  10. Cross References
    Psalms 75:10
    All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.
  11. Cross References
    Job 36:13
    The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them.
    Psalms 107:10
    Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons.
  12. Cross References
    Job 15:25
    Because he has stretched out his hand against God and defies the Almighty.
  13. Cross References
    Job 33:16
    Then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings.
  14. Cross References
    Jeremiah 18:11
    Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: 'Thus says the Lord, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.
  15. Cross References
    Job 36:11 - 12
    If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness.
    Isaiah 1:19 - 20
    If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.
  16. Cross References
    Job 21:13
    They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.
  17. Cross References
    Job 33:18
    He keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.
  18. Cross References
    Job 4:21
    Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them, do they not die, and that without wisdom?
    Job 35:16
    Job opens his mouth in empty talk; he multiplies words without knowledge.
  19. Cross References
    Job 15:34
    For the company of the godless is barren, and fire consumes the tents of bribery.
  20. Cross References
    Job 36:8
    And if they are bound in chains and caught in the cords of affliction.
  21. Cross References
    Job 15:32
    It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not be green.
    Job 22:16
    They were snatched away before their time; their foundation was washed away.
    Psalms 55:23
    But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.
  22. Cross References
    Job 36:6
    He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right.
    Job 33:15 - 28
    In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds.
  23. Cross References
    Job 36:10
    He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from iniquity.
    Psalms 119:67
    Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
    Psalms 119:71
    It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
  24. Cross References
    Job 37:10
    By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast.
    Psalms 4:1
    Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
    Psalms 18:19
    He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
    Psalms 31:8
    And you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.
    Psalms 118:5
    Out of my distress I called on the Lord ; the Lord answered me and set me free.
  25. Cross References
    Psalms 23:5
    You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
  26. Cross References
    Psalms 36:8
    They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
  27. Cross References
    Job 33:24
    And he is merciful to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom.
  28. Cross References
    Proverbs 11:4
    Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
  29. Cross References
    Job 27:20
    Terrors overtake him like a flood; in the night a whirlwind carries him off.
    Job 34:20
    In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.
    Job 34:25
    Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
  30. Cross References
    Job 40:12
    Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand.
  31. Cross References
    Psalms 66:18
    If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
  32. Cross References
    Job 34:32
    Teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?
    Job 35:11
    Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?
  33. Cross References
    Job 34:13
    Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him the whole world?
    Isaiah 40:13 - 14
    Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel?
    Romans 11:34
    "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"
    1 Corinthians 2:16
    For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
  34. Cross References
    Job 34:10
    Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
  35. Cross References
    Luke 1:46
    And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
    Psalms 92:5
    How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep!
    Revelation 15:3
    And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!
  36. Cross References
    Job 33:27
    He sings before men and says: 'I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me.
    Psalms 104:33
    I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
  37. Cross References
    Job 37:5
    God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
    1 Corinthians 13:12
    For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
  38. Cross References
    Psalms 90:2
    Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
    Psalms 102:27
    But you are the same, and your years have no end.
  39. Cross References
    Genesis 2:6
    And a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground -
  40. Cross References
    Psalms 147:8
    He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.
  41. Cross References
    Proverbs 3:20
    By his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.
    Deuteronomy 33:28
    So Israel lived in safety, Jacob lived alone, in a land of grain and wine, whose heavens drop down dew.
  42. Cross References
    Job 26:9
    He covers the face of the full moon and spreads over it his cloud.
  43. Cross References
    Psalms 18:11
    He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water.
    Psalms 105:39
    He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night.
  44. Cross References
    Job 37:13
    Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen.
  45. Cross References
    Psalms 104:27 - 28
    These all look to you, to give them their food in due season.
    Psalms 136:25
    He who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
    Psalms 145:15
    The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.
    Psalms 147:9
    He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.
    Acts 14:17
    Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.
  46. Cross References
    Habakkuk 3:4
    His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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