Job 36:18-28

18 Be careful not to let bribes deceive you, or riches lead you astray.
19 It will do you no good to cry out for help; all your strength can't help you now.
20 Don't wish for night to come, the time when nations will perish.
21 Be careful not to turn to evil; your suffering was sent to keep you from it.
22 Remember how great is God's power; he is the greatest teacher of all.
23 No one can tell God what to do or accuse him of doing evil.
24 He has always been praised for what he does; you also must praise him.
25 Everyone has seen what he has done; but we can only watch from a distance.
26 We cannot fully know his greatness or count the number of his years.
27 It is God who takes water from the earth and turns it into drops of rain.
28 He lets the rain pour from the clouds in showers for all human beings.

Job 36:18-28 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 36

This chapter, with the following, contains Elihu's fourth and last discourse, the principal view of which is to vindicate the righteousness of God; which is done by observing the dealings of God with men in his providence, according to their different characters, and from the wonderful works wrought by him in a sovereign manner, and for the benefit of his creatures. This chapter is introduced with a preface, the design of which is to gain attention, Job 36:1-4; the different dealings of God with men are observed, and the different issue of them, and the different ends answered thereby, Job 36:5-15; and it is suggested to Job, that had he attended to the design of the providence he was under, and had submitted to it patiently, things would have been otherwise with him; and therefore Elihu proceeds to give him some advice, which, if taken, would be for his own good, and the glory of God, Job 36:16-25; and closes the chapter by observing the unsearchable greatness of God, as appears by the works of nature wrought by him, Job 36:26-33.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. but we can only watch from a distance; [or] no one understands it all.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.