Elihu Extols God's Greatness

Job 36

1 Elihu also proceeded and said:

2 "Bear with me a little, and I will show you
That there are yet words to speak on God's behalf. 3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar;
I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 4 For truly my words are not false;
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

5 "Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one;
a He is mighty in strength 1 of understanding. 6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked,
But gives justice to the b oppressed. 7 c He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But d they are on the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever,
And they are exalted. 8 And e if they are bound in 2 fetters,
Held in the cords of affliction, 9 Then He tells them their work and their transgressions -
That they have acted 3 defiantly. 10 f He also opens their ear to 4 instruction,
And commands that they turn from iniquity. 11 If they obey and serve Him,
They shall g spend their days in prosperity,
And their years in pleasures. 12 But if they do not obey,
They shall perish by the sword,
And they shall die 5 without h knowledge.

13 "But the hypocrites in heart i store up wrath;
They do not cry for help when He binds them. 14 j They 6 die in youth,
And their life ends among the 7 perverted persons. 8 15 He delivers the poor in their affliction,
And opens their ears in oppression. 16 "Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress,
k Into a broad place where there is no restraint;
And l what is set on your table would be full of m richness.

17 But you are filled with the judgment due the n wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you. 18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow;
For o a large ransom would not help you avoid it. 19 p 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, q do not turn to iniquity,
For r you have chosen this rather than affliction. 22 "Behold, God is exalted by His power;
Who teaches like Him? 23 s Who has assigned Him His way,
Or who has said, 'You have done t wrong'?

24 "Remember to u 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 v do not know Him;
w Nor can the number of His years be discovered. 27 For He x draws up drops of water,
Which distill as rain from the mist, 28 y Which the clouds drop down
And pour abundantly on man. 29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds,
The thunder from His canopy? 30 Look, He z scatters His light upon it,
And covers the depths of the sea. 31 For a by these He judges the peoples;
He b gives food in abundance. 32 c He covers His hands with lightning,
And commands it to 9 strike. 33 d His thunder declares it,
The cattle also, concerning 10 the rising storm.

  1. Cross References
    Job 12:13
    With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding.
    Job 12:16
    With Him are strength and prudence. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
    Job 37:23
    As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress.
    Psalms 99:2 - 5
    The LORD is great in Zion, And He is high above all the peoples.
  2. Cross References
    Job 5:15
    But He saves the needy from the sword, From the mouth of the mighty, And from their hand.
  3. Cross References
    Psalms 33:18
    Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy.
    Psalms 34:15
    The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.
  4. Cross References
    Job 5:11
    He sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to safety.
    Psalms 113:8
    That He may seat him with princes - With the princes of His people.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 107:10
    Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Bound in affliction and irons -
  6. Cross References
    Job 33:16
    Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.
    Job 36:15
    He delivers the poor in their affliction, And opens their ears in oppression.
  7. Cross References
    Job 21:13
    They spend their days in wealth, And in a moment go down to the grave.
    Isaiah 1:19
    If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land.
    Isaiah 1:20
    But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword"; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
  8. Cross References
    Job 4:21
    Does not their own excellence go away? They die, even without wisdom.
  9. Cross References
    Romans 2:5
    But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
  10. Cross References
    Psalms 55:23
    But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in You.
  11. Cross References
    Psalms 18:19
    He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.
    Psalms 31:8
    And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place.
    Psalms 118:5
    I called on the LORD in distress; The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
  12. Cross References
    Psalms 23:5
    You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
  13. Cross References
    Psalms 36:8
    They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
  14. Cross References
    Job 22:5
    Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquity without end?
    Job 22:10
    Therefore snares are all around you, And sudden fear troubles you.
    Job 22:11
    Or darkness so that you cannot see; And an abundance of water covers you.
  15. Cross References
    Psalms 49:7
    None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him -
  16. Cross References
    Proverbs 11:4
    Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
  17. Cross References
    Job 36:10
    He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity.
    Psalms 31:6
    I have hated those who regard useless idols; But I trust in the LORD.
    Psalms 66:18
    If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.
  18. Cross References
    Job 36:8
    And if they are bound in fetters, Held in the cords of affliction.
    Job 36:15
    He delivers the poor in their affliction, And opens their ears in oppression.
    Hebrews 11:25
    Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.
  19. Cross References
    Job 34:13
    Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
    Isaiah 40:13
    Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has taught Him?
    Isaiah 40:14
    With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, And showed Him the way of understanding?
  20. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:4
    He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
    Job 8:3
    Does God subvert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice?
  21. Cross References
    Psalms 92:5
    O LORD, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep.
    Revelation 15:3
    They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!
  22. Cross References
    Job 11:7 - 9
    Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
    Job 37:23
    As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress.
    1 Corinthians 13:12
    For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
  23. Cross References
    Job 10:5
    Are Your days like the days of a mortal man? Are Your years like the days of a mighty man.
    Psalms 90:2
    Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
    Psalms 102:24
    I said, "O my God, Do not take me away in the midst of my days; Your years are throughout all generations.
    Psalms 102:27
    But You are the same, And Your years will have no end.
    Hebrews 1:12
    Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.
  24. Cross References
    Job 5:10
    He gives rain on the earth, And sends waters on the fields.
    Job 37:6
    For He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth'; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
    Job 37:11
    Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds.
    Job 38:28
    Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
    Psalms 147:8
    Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.
  25. Cross References
    Proverbs 3:20
    By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew.
  26. Cross References
    Job 37:3
    He sends it forth under the whole heaven, His lightning to the ends of the earth.
  27. Cross References
    Acts 14:17
    "Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."
  28. Cross References
    Genesis 9:3
    Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.
    Psalms 104:14
    He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the service of man, That he may bring forth food from the earth.
    Psalms 104:15
    And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man's heart.
  29. Cross References
    Psalms 147:8
    Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.
  30. Cross References
    1 Kings 18:41
    Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.
    Job 37:2
    Hear attentively the thunder of His voice, And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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