Job 36:19-29

19 Will your riches, Or all the mighty forces, Keep you from distress?
20 Do not desire the night, When people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 "Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him?
23 Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, 'You have done wrong'?
24 "Remember to magnify His work, Of which men have sung.
25 Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar.
26 "Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
27 For He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist,
28 Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy?

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.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.