Job 36:18-28

18 Be careful! Don't be led away from God by riches; don't let much money turn you away.

19 Neither your wealth nor all your great strength will keep you out of trouble.

20 Don't wish for the night when people are taken from their homes.

21 Be careful not to turn to evil, which you seem to want more than suffering.

22 "God is great and powerful; no other teacher is like him.

23 No one has planned his ways for him; no one can say to God, 'You have done wrong.'

24 Remember to praise his work, about which people have sung.

25 Everybody has seen it; people look at it from far off.

26 God is so great, greater than we can understand! No one knows how old he is.

27 "He evaporates the drops of water from the earth and turns them into rain.

28 The rain then pours down from the clouds, and showers fall on people.

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.