Job 36
36
1Elihu continued speaking. 2“Be patient with me just a little while longer and let me explain. I still have something to say on God's behalf. 3I will share my extensive knowledge,#36:3. Literally, “I will bring my knowledge from far away.” and I will prove my Creator is in the right. 4I assure you that what I'm saying are not lies, for I am a man whose knowledge is of the highest order.#36:4. Literally, “one whose knowledge is perfect is with you.” 5God is mighty, but doesn't despise anyone; he is powerful in strength and understanding. 6He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives justice to the oppressed. 7He always pays attention#36:7. Literally, “he does not withdraw his eyes.” to those who do right, and places them on thrones with kings, honoring them eternally. 8If they are bound in chains, tied down by ropes of suffering, 9then he explains to them what they've done—their arrogant sins. 10He makes them pay attention#36:10. Literally, “he opens their ears to instruction.” and orders them to stop sinning.
11If they listen and do what God says they will live out their lives in happiness. 12But if they do not listen they will die a violent death,#36:12. Literally, “by the sword.” ignorant of God. 13Those who reject God hold on to their bitterness. Even when he disciplines them they do not cry out to him for help. 14They die in their youth; their lives end among the male temple prostitutes.#36:14. “Male temple prostitutes”: indicative of dying in shameful ways. 15Through suffering God saves those who suffer; he gets their attention through their troubles.
16God is trying to rescue you from the jaws of trouble to a place of freedom and safety,#36:16. Or “to an open space free of restriction.” filling your table full of the very best food. 17But you are preoccupied with the fate of the wicked; judgment and justice fill your mind. 18But be careful that your anger doesn't seduce you into mockery; and don't let the size of the ‘bribe’#36:18. Taken together with the first line of this verse, “bribe” could be any kind of “reward” that sin might bring. lead you into sin. 19Will your cry for help sustain you when troubles come?#36:19. This could also be translated, “Will God value your wealth or gold or your strength?” However, Job has already lost all these. 20Do not long for the night when people are suddenly taken away.#36:20. Presumably a reference to longing for death to bring an end to suffering. 21Watch out that you don't turn to evil! For it's because of this that you are being tested through suffering.
22Look how much power God has! What teacher is like him? 23Who has instructed him what to do? Who can say to him ‘You have done wrong’? 24Instead you should praise him for what he has done, as people have done in song.#36:24. In the Psalms, for example. 25Everyone has seen God's creation, though only from a distance.#36:25. Later God asks Job if he was there during creation.
26See how great God is—more than we can understand! No one can count his years. 27He draws up the water and distils it into the dew and the rain. 28The clouds pour down rain, falling plentifully on humankind. 29Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out, or how thunder roars from where he lives?#36:29. Literally, “the thunderings of his pavilion.” 30See how he scatters lightning around him, and covers the depths of the sea in darkness. 31By these actions he rules the people, he provides abundant food. 32He holds lightning in his hands and commands where it should strike. 33Thunder declares his presence—even cattle know when a storm is coming.”#36:33. The Hebrew is unclear.
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Job 36: FBV
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
