Job 36:5-15

5 How strong God is! He despises no one; there is nothing he doesn't understand.

6 He does not let sinners live on, and he always treats the poor with justice.

7 He protects those who are righteous; he allows them to rule like kings and lets them be honored forever.

8 But if people are bound in chains, suffering for what they have done,

9 God shows them their sins and their pride.

10 He makes them listen to his warning to turn away from evil.

11 If they obey God and serve him, they live out their lives in peace and prosperity.

12 But if not, they will die in ignorance and cross the stream into the world of the dead.

13 Those who are godless keep on being angry, and even when punished, they don't pray for help.

14 They die while they are still young, worn out by a life of disgrace.

15 But God teaches people through suffering and uses distress to open their eyes.

Job 36:5-15 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.