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Job 36-37
New Life Version
Job 36-37
New Life Version
Elihu Keeps On Speaking
36 Then Elihu spoke more and said, 2 “Wait for me a little longer, and I will show you that there is yet more to be said for God. 3 I bring my learning from far away, and will tell how right and good my Maker is. 4 For sure my words are not false. One who is perfect in much learning is with you.
5 “See, God is powerful, but does not hate anyone. He is powerful in strength of understanding. 6 He does not keep the sinful alive, but gives what is right and fair to those who are troubled. 7 He does not turn His eyes away from those who are right with Him. He puts them on the throne with kings and they are honored forever. 8 If they are tied up in chains and caught in the ropes of trouble, 9 then He makes known to them their work and their sins, that they have shown pride. 10 He makes them listen to teaching, and tells them to turn away from sin. 11 If they hear and serve Him, the rest of their days will be filled with what they need and their years with peace. 12 But if they do not hear, they will die by the sword. They will die without learning.
13 “But those who do not know God keep anger in their heart. They do not cry for help when He puts them in chains. 14 They die when they are young. And their life ends among those who sell the use of their bodies in the houses of the false gods. 15 He takes those who suffer out of their suffering. He speaks to them in times of trouble. 16 He led you from being close to trouble to a wide place where you were free with your table full of food.
17 “But you wanted to punish the sinful. Punishment and being fair have taken hold of you. 18 Be careful or anger will tempt you to laugh at the truth. Do not take pay in secret for wrong-doing and be turned aside. 19 Will your riches or all your power keep you from trouble? 20 Do not desire the night, when people are taken from their place. 21 Be careful, do not turn to sin. For you have chosen this instead of suffering. 22 See, God is honored in His power. Who is a teacher like Him? 23 Who has told Him the way He should go? And who has said, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 “Remember that you should honor His work, of which men have sung. 25 All men have seen it. Man sees it from far away. 26 See, God is honored, and we do not know Him. We are not able to know the number of His years. 27 For He takes up the drops of water that become rain, 28 which the clouds pour down. Much rain falls on man. 29 Can anyone understand how the clouds are spread out, or how He thunders from His tent? 30 See, He spreads His lightning around Him and covers the bottom of the sea. 31 For by these He judges the people and He gives much food. 32 He covers His hands with the lightning, and tells it to hit the mark. 33 His thunder tells of a storm coming, and cattle also know it is coming.
Elihu Keeps On Talking
37 “At this my heart shakes with fear and jumps from its place. 2 Listen to the thunder of His voice and the noise that comes from His mouth. 3 He lets it loose under the whole heaven. He lets His lightning go to the ends of the earth. 4 His voice sounds after it. He thunders with His great and powerful voice. And He does not hold back the lightning when His voice is heard. 5 God thunders with His great voice. He does great things which we cannot understand. 6 For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain, ‘Be strong.’ 7 He stops the work of every man, that all men may know His work. 8 Then the wild animals go to their holes, and stay where they live. 9 The storm comes from the south, and the cold from the north. 10 Water becomes ice by the breath of God. The wide waters become ice. 11 He loads the heavy clouds with water and they send out His lightning. 12 It changes its path and turns around by His leading, doing whatever He tells it to do on the earth where people live. 13 He causes it to happen for punishment, or for His world, or because of His love.
14 “Hear this, O Job. Stop and think about the great works of God. 15 Do you know how God does them, and makes the lightning shine from His cloud? 16 Do you know how the clouds are set in heaven, the great works of Him Who is perfect in understanding? 17 Do you know why you are hot in your clothes when the land becomes quiet because of the south wind? 18 Can you help Him spread out the sky, making it as hard as a mirror made from heated brass? 19 Teach us what we should say to Him. We cannot put words together to help us because of darkness. 20 Should He be told that I want to speak? Did a man ever wish to be swallowed up?
21 “Now men cannot look on the light when it is bright in the sky, when the wind has passed and made it clear. 22 A bright gold light is seen in the north. Around God is great power. 23 We cannot come near the All-powerful. He is lifted high with power. And He is right and fair and good and will not make it hard for us. 24 So men honor Him with fear. He has respect for any who are wise in heart.”
Job 36-37
New International Version
Job 36-37
New International Version
36 Elihu continued:
2 “Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
3 I get my knowledge from afar;(A)
I will ascribe justice to my Maker.(B)
4 Be assured that my words are not false;(C)
one who has perfect knowledge(D) is with you.(E)
5 “God is mighty,(F) but despises no one;(G)
he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.(H)
6 He does not keep the wicked alive(I)
but gives the afflicted their rights.(J)
7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous;(K)
he enthrones them with kings(L)
and exalts them forever.(M)
8 But if people are bound in chains,(N)
held fast by cords of affliction,(O)
9 he tells them what they have done—
that they have sinned arrogantly.(P)
10 He makes them listen(Q) to correction(R)
and commands them to repent of their evil.(S)
11 If they obey and serve him,(T)
they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity(U)
and their years in contentment.(V)
12 But if they do not listen,
they will perish by the sword[a](W)
and die without knowledge.(X)
13 “The godless in heart(Y) harbor resentment;(Z)
even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.(AA)
14 They die in their youth,(AB)
among male prostitutes of the shrines.(AC)
15 But those who suffer(AD) he delivers in their suffering;(AE)
he speaks(AF) to them in their affliction.(AG)
16 “He is wooing(AH) you from the jaws of distress
to a spacious place(AI) free from restriction,(AJ)
to the comfort of your table(AK) laden with choice food.(AL)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;(AM)
judgment and justice have taken hold of you.(AN)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
do not let a large bribe(AO) turn you aside.(AP)
19 Would your wealth(AQ) or even all your mighty efforts
sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20 Do not long for the night,(AR)
to drag people away from their homes.[b]
21 Beware of turning to evil,(AS)
which you seem to prefer to affliction.(AT)
22 “God is exalted in his power.(AU)
Who is a teacher like him?(AV)
23 Who has prescribed his ways(AW) for him,(AX)
or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?(AY)
24 Remember to extol his work,(AZ)
which people have praised in song.(BA)
25 All humanity has seen it;(BB)
mortals gaze on it from afar.
26 How great is God—beyond our understanding!(BC)
The number of his years is past finding out.(BD)
27 “He draws up the drops of water,(BE)
which distill as rain to the streams[c];(BF)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
and abundant showers(BG) fall on mankind.(BH)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
how he thunders(BI) from his pavilion?(BJ)
30 See how he scatters his lightning(BK) about him,
bathing the depths of the sea.(BL)
31 This is the way he governs[d] the nations(BM)
and provides food(BN) in abundance.(BO)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
and commands it to strike its mark.(BP)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;(BQ)
even the cattle make known its approach.[e](BR)
37 “At this my heart pounds(BS)
and leaps from its place.
2 Listen!(BT) Listen to the roar of his voice,(BU)
to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.(BV)
3 He unleashes his lightning(BW) beneath the whole heaven
and sends it to the ends of the earth.(BX)
4 After that comes the sound of his roar;
he thunders(BY) with his majestic voice.(BZ)
When his voice resounds,
he holds nothing back.
5 God’s voice thunders(CA) in marvelous ways;(CB)
he does great things beyond our understanding.(CC)
6 He says to the snow,(CD) ‘Fall on the earth,’
and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’(CE)
7 So that everyone he has made may know his work,(CF)
he stops all people from their labor.[f](CG)
8 The animals take cover;(CH)
they remain in their dens.(CI)
9 The tempest comes out from its chamber,(CJ)
the cold from the driving winds.(CK)
10 The breath of God produces ice,
and the broad waters become frozen.(CL)
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;(CM)
he scatters his lightning(CN) through them.(CO)
12 At his direction they swirl around
over the face of the whole earth
to do whatever he commands them.(CP)
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,(CQ)
or to water his earth and show his love.(CR)
14 “Listen(CS) to this, Job;
stop and consider God’s wonders.(CT)
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
and makes his lightning(CU) flash?(CV)
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,(CW)
those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?(CX)
17 You who swelter in your clothes
when the land lies hushed under the south wind,(CY)
18 can you join him in spreading out the skies,(CZ)
hard as a mirror of cast bronze?(DA)
19 “Tell us what we should say to him;(DB)
we cannot draw up our case(DC) because of our darkness.(DD)
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21 Now no one can look at the sun,(DE)
bright as it is in the skies
after the wind has swept them clean.
22 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;(DF)
God comes in awesome majesty.(DG)
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;(DH)
in his justice(DI) and great righteousness, he does not oppress.(DJ)
24 Therefore, people revere him,(DK)
for does he not have regard for all the wise(DL) in heart?[g]”
Footnotes
- Job 36:12 Or will cross the river
- Job 36:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.
- Job 36:27 Or distill from the mist as rain
- Job 36:31 Or nourishes
- Job 36:33 Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil
- Job 37:7 Or work, / he fills all people with fear by his power
- Job 37:24 Or for he does not have regard for any who think they are wise.
Job 36-37
King James Version
Job 36-37
King James Version
36 Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
16 Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
33 The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
37 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.
2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
New Life Version (NLV)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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