Job · Chapter 36 of 42

Job 36

Elihu desires Job's attention. · The methods in which God deals with men. · Elihu counsels Job. · The wonders in the works of creation.

1Elihu also proceeded, and said, 2Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf. 3I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 4For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

5Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. 6He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. 7He 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. 8And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; 9Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. 10He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. 11If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 12But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. 13But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. 14They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

15He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. 16Even 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. 17But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. 18Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. 19Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. 20Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. 21Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. 22Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? 23Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

24Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. 25Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. 26Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. 27For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: 28Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. 29Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? 30Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. 31For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. 32With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. 33The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

King James Version (1769) · public domain

1And Elihu continued: 2“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf. 3I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker. 4For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.

5Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding. 6He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted. 7He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever. 8And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction, 9then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed. 10He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity. 11If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness. 12But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge. 13The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help. 14They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.

15God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression. 16Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness. 17But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you. 18Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray. 19Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress? 20Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes. 21Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction. 22Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him? 23Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?

24Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song. 25All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar. 26Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable. 27For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist, 28which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind. 29Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion? 30See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea. 31For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance. 32He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. 33The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.

Berean Standard Bible · public domain

1Elihu also continued, and said, 2“Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf. 3I will get my knowledge from afar, and will 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 doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding. 6He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the afflicted. 7He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted. 8If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions, 9then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly. 10He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity. 11If they listen and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 12But if they don’t listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge. 13“But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them. 14They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.

15He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression. 16Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a wide place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness. 17“But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you. 18Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside. 19Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength? 20Don’t desire the night, when people are cut off in their place. 21Take heed, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction. 22Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him? 23Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness’?

24“Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung. 25All men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off. 26Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable. 27For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor, 28which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly. 29Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunderings of his pavilion? 30Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea. 31For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance. 32He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark. 33Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.

World English Bible · public domain

About Job

Job 36 commentary

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706), public domain.

Verses 1-4

Elihu only maintained that the affliction was sent for his trial; and lengthened because Job was not yet thoroughly humbled under it. He sought to ascribe righteousness to his Maker; to clear this truth, that God is righteous in all his ways. Such knowledge must be learned from the word and Spirit of God, for naturally we are estranged from it. The fitness of Elihu's discourse to the dispute between Job and his friends is plain. It pointed out to Job the true reason of those trials with which he had been pointed out to Job the true reason of those trials with which he had been visited. It taught that God had acted in mercy towards him, and the spiritual benefit he was to derive from them. It corrected the mistake of his friends, and showed that Job's calamities were for good.

Verses 5-14

Elihu here shows that God acts as righteous Governor. He is always ready to defend those that are injured. If our eye is ever toward God in duty, his eye will be ever upon us in mercy, and, when we are at the lowest, will not overlook us. God intends, when he afflicts us, to discover past sins to us, and to bring them to our remembrance. Also, to dispose our hearts to be taught: affliction makes people willing to learn, through the grace of God working with and by it. And further, to deter us from sinning for the future. It is a command, to have no more to do with sin. If we faithfully serve God, we have the promise of the life that now is, and the comforts of it, as far as is for God's glory and our good: and who would desire them any further? We have the possession of inward pleasures, the great peace which those have that love God's law. If the affliction fail in its work, let men expect the furnace to be heated till they are consumed. Those that die without knowledge, die without grace, and are undone for ever. See the nature of hypocrisy; it lies in the heart: that is for the world and the flesh, while perhaps the outside seems to be for God and religion. Whether sinners die in youth, or live long to heap up wrath, their case is dreadful. The souls of the wicked live after death, but it is in everlasting misery.

Verses 15-23

Elihu shows that Job caused the continuance of his own trouble. He cautions him not to persist in frowardness. Even good men need to be kept to their duty by the fear of God's wrath; the wisest and best have enough in them to deserve his stroke. Let not Job continue his unjust quarrel with God and his providence. And let us never dare to think favourably of sin, never indulge it, nor allow ourselves in it. Elihu thinks Job needed this caution, he having chosen rather to gratify his pride and humour by contending with God, than to mortify them by submitting, and accepting the punishment. It is absurd for us to think to teach Him who is himself the Fountain of light, truth, knowledge, and instruction. He teaches by the Bible, and that is the best book; teaches by his Son, and he is the best Master. He is just in all proceedings.

Verses 24-33

Elihu endeavours to fill Job with high thought of God, and so to persuade him into cheerful submission to his providence. Man may see God's works, and is capable of discerning his hand in them, which the beasts are not, therefore they ought to give him the glory. But while the worker of iniquity ought to tremble, the true believer should rejoice. Children should hear with pleasure their Father's voice, even when he speaks in terror to his enemies. There is no light but there may be a cloud to intercept it. The light of the favour of God, the light of his countenance, the most blessed light of all, even that light has many a cloud. The clouds of our sins cause the Lord to his face, and hinder the light of his loving-kindness from shining on our souls.

Key verses in Job 36

Job 36:12
But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
Job 36:27
For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
Job 36:22
Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
Job 36:16
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.
Job 36:7
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.