Job 36:4-24

4 Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.

5 “God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.

6 He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights.

7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.

8 But if people are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction,

9 he tells them what they have done— that they have sinned arrogantly.

10 He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.

11 If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.

12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword^[a]and die without knowledge.

13 “The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.

14 They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines.

15 But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.

16 “He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.

17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you.

18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.

19 Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?

20 Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes.^[b]

21 Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.

22 “God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

23 Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?

24 Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song.

Job 36:4-24 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.

Cross References

• 1. S Job 6:28; S Job 13:6; Job 33:3
• 2. Job 37:5,16,23
• 3. S Job 32:17
• 4. S Job 9:4
• 5. Psalms 5:2; Psalms 22:24; Psalms 31:22; Psalms 69:33; Psalms 102:17; Psalms 103:10
• 6. S Numbers 23:19; Romans 11:29; Job 12:13
• 7. S Job 34:26; Job 8:22
• 8. S Job 4:10; Job 5:15
• 9. S Job 11:11; Psalms 11:5; Psalms 33:18; Psalms 34:15; Matthew 6:18
• 10. Psalms 113:8; Isaiah 22:23
• 11. S 1 Samuel 2:7-8; S Job 4:7
• 12. S 2 Samuel 3:34; 2 Kings 23:33; Psalms 107:10,14
• 13. ver 10,15,21; Psalms 119:67,71
• 14. S Job 15:25
• 15. S Job 33:16
• 16. S Job 5:17
• 17. S ver 8; S Judges 6:8; S Job 34:33; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; 2 Kings 17:13
• 18. S Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:1; Isaiah 1:19; Haggai 1:12
• 19. S Deuteronomy 30:15; S Job 8:7
• 20. S Exodus 8:22; S Deuteronomy 8:1; John 14:21; 1 Timothy 4:8
• 21. S Leviticus 26:38; S Job 15:22
• 22. S Job 4:21; Ephesians 4:18
• 23. S Job 15:12; Romans 2:5
• 24. S Job 5:2
• 25. S Job 4:17; Amos 4:11
• 26. S Job 15:32
• 27. S Deuteronomy 23:17
• 28. S Job 5:15
• 29. 2 Corinthians 12:10
• 30. S Job 33:16
• 31. S ver 8; S Job 34:33
• 32. Hosea 2:14
• 33. S 2 Samuel 22:20; Psalms 18:19
• 34. Psalms 118:5
• 35. Psalms 23:5; Psalms 78:19
• 36. S Genesis 17:1; S Job 15:11
• 37. S Job 20:29
• 38. Job 22:11
• 39. S Exodus 23:8; Amos 5:12
• 40. S Job 34:33
• 41. Psalms 49:6; Jeremiah 9:23
• 42. Job 34:20,25
• 43. S Job 34:33; Psalms 66:18
• 44. S ver 8; Hebrews 11:25
• 45. S Job 5:9; S Job 9:4
• 46. S Job 21:22; S Romans 11:34; Isaiah 40:13; 1 Corinthians 2:16
• 47. Job 27:11
• 48. S Job 34:13; Romans 11:33
• 49. S Genesis 18:25; S Job 34:10; Job 8:3
• 50. 1 Chronicles 16:24; Psalms 35:27; Psalms 92:5; Psalms 111:2; Psalms 138:5; Psalms 145:10
• 51. S Exodus 15:1; Psalms 59:16; Revelation 15:3

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "will cross the river"
• [b]. The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.