Job 36:21-31

21 Be careful not to do what is evil. You seem to like evil better than suffering!

22 "God is honored because he is so powerful. He has no equal as a teacher.

23 Who has told him what he can do? Who has said to him, 'You have done what is wrong'?

24 Remember to thank him for what he's done. People have praised him with their songs.

25 Every human being has seen his work. People can see it from far away.

26 How great God is! We'll never completely understand him. We'll never find out how long he has lived.

27 "He makes mist rise from the water. Then it falls as rain into the streams.

28 The clouds pour down their moisture. Rain showers fall on people everywhere.

29 Who can understand how God spreads out the clouds? Who can explain how he thunders from his home in heaven?

30 See how he scatters his lightning around him! He lights up the deepest parts of the ocean.

31 The rain he sends makes things grow for the nations. He provides them with plenty of food.

Job 36:21-31 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.