Job 36 – read and compare multiple versions
Job 36
[1] Elihu 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.
[3] I will get my knowledge from afar,
and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
[4] For 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.
[6] He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked,
but gives justice to the afflicted.
[7] He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous,
but with kings on the throne,
he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
[8] If they are bound in fetters,
and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
[9] then he shows them their work,
and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
[10] He also opens their ears to instruction,
and commands that they return from iniquity.
[11] If they listen and serve him,
they will spend their days in prosperity,
and their years in pleasures.
[12] But 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.
[14] They die in youth.
Their life perishes among the unclean.
[15] He delivers the afflicted by their affliction,
and opens their ear in oppression.
[16] Yes, 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.
[18] Don’t let riches entice you to wrath,
neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
[19] Would your wealth sustain you in distress,
or all the might of your strength?
[20] Don’t desire the night,
when people are cut off in their place.
[21] Take heed, don’t regard iniquity;
for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
[22] Behold, God is exalted in his power.
Who is a teacher like him?
[23] Who 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.
[25] All men have looked on it.
Man sees it afar off.
[26] Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him.
The number of his years is unsearchable.
[27] For he draws up the drops of water,
which distill in rain from his vapor,
[28] which the skies pour down
and which drop on man abundantly.
[29] Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds
and the thunderings of his pavilion?
[30] Behold, he spreads his light around him.
He covers the bottom of the sea.
[31] For by these he judges the people.
He gives food in abundance.
[32] He covers his hands with the lightning,
and commands it to strike the mark.
[33] Its noise tells about him,
and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.
[2] “Bear with me a little, and I will show you;
for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.
[3] I will get my knowledge from afar,
and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
[4] For 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.
[6] He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked,
but gives justice to the afflicted.
[7] He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous,
but with kings on the throne,
he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
[8] If they are bound in fetters,
and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
[9] then he shows them their work,
and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
[10] He also opens their ears to instruction,
and commands that they return from iniquity.
[11] If they listen and serve him,
they will spend their days in prosperity,
and their years in pleasures.
[12] But 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.
[14] They die in youth.
Their life perishes among the unclean.
[15] He delivers the afflicted by their affliction,
and opens their ear in oppression.
[16] Yes, 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.
[18] Don’t let riches entice you to wrath,
neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
[19] Would your wealth sustain you in distress,
or all the might of your strength?
[20] Don’t desire the night,
when people are cut off in their place.
[21] Take heed, don’t regard iniquity;
for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
[22] Behold, God is exalted in his power.
Who is a teacher like him?
[23] Who 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.
[25] All men have looked on it.
Man sees it afar off.
[26] Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him.
The number of his years is unsearchable.
[27] For he draws up the drops of water,
which distill in rain from his vapor,
[28] which the skies pour down
and which drop on man abundantly.
[29] Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds
and the thunderings of his pavilion?
[30] Behold, he spreads his light around him.
He covers the bottom of the sea.
[31] For by these he judges the people.
He gives food in abundance.
[32] He covers his hands with the lightning,
and commands it to strike the mark.
[33] Its noise tells about him,
and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.