Job 36:19-29

19 Will your riches save you from having to suffer? Will all your mighty strength help you?

20 Don't look forward to the night, when people disappear from their places.

21 Be careful! Don't turn to evil, because you have chosen evil instead of suffering.

22 "God does great things by his power. Is there any teacher like him?

23 Who can tell him which way he should go? Who can say to him, 'You did wrong'?

24 Remember that you should praise his work. People have sung about it.

25 Every person has seen it. Mortals have looked at it from a distance.

26 "Certainly, God is so great that he is beyond our understanding. The number of his years cannot be counted.

27 He collects drops of water. He distills rain from his mist,

28 which then drips from the clouds. It pours down on many people.

29 Can anyone really understand how clouds spread out or how he thunders from his dwelling place?

Job 36:19-29 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.