Job 36 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

Job 36:1

Job 36:1Elihu continued speaking:

Job 36:2

Job 36:2“Let me go on, and I will show you the truth.
For I have not finished defending God!

Job 36:3

Job 36:3I will present profound arguments
for the righteousness of my Creator.

Job 36:4

Job 36:4I am telling you nothing but the truth,
for I am a man of great knowledge.

Job 36:5

Job 36:5“God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone!
He is mighty in both power and understanding.

Job 36:6

Job 36:6He does not let the wicked live
but gives justice to the afflicted.

Job 36:7

Job 36:7He never takes his eyes off the innocent,
but he sets them on thrones with kings
and exalts them forever.

Job 36:8

Job 36:8If they are bound in chains
and caught up in a web of trouble,

Job 36:9

Job 36:9he shows them the reason.
He shows them their sins of pride.

Job 36:10

Job 36:10He gets their attention
and commands that they turn from evil.

Job 36:11

Job 36:11“If they listen and obey God,
they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives.
All their years will be pleasant.

Job 36:12

Job 36:12But if they refuse to listen to him,
they will be killed by the sword[fn]
and die from lack of understanding.

Job 36:13

Job 36:13For the godless are full of resentment.
Even when he punishes them,
they refuse to cry out to him for help.

Job 36:14

Job 36:14They die when they are young,
after wasting their lives in immoral living.

Job 36:15

Job 36:15But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer.
For he gets their attention through adversity.

Job 36:16

Job 36:16“God is leading you away from danger, Job,
to a place free from distress.
He is setting your table with the best food.

Job 36:17

Job 36:17But you are obsessed with whether the godless will be judged.
Don’t worry, judgment and justice will be upheld.

Job 36:18

Job 36:18But watch out, or you may be seduced by wealth.[fn]
Don’t let yourself be bribed into sin.

Job 36:19

Job 36:19Could all your wealth[fn]
or all your mighty efforts
keep you from distress?

Job 36:20

Job 36:20Do not long for the cover of night,
for that is when people will be destroyed.[fn]

Job 36:21

Job 36:21Be on guard! Turn back from evil,
for God sent this suffering
to keep you from a life of evil.

Elihu Reminds Job of God’s Power

Job 36:22

Job 36:22“Look, God is all-powerful.
Who is a teacher like him?

Job 36:23

Job 36:23No one can tell him what to do,
or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’

Job 36:24

Job 36:24Instead, glorify his mighty works,
singing songs of praise.

Job 36:25

Job 36:25Everyone has seen these things,
though only from a distance.

Job 36:26

Job 36:26“Look, God is greater than we can understand.
His years cannot be counted.

Job 36:27

Job 36:27He draws up the water vapor
and then distills it into rain.

Job 36:28

Job 36:28The rain pours down from the clouds,
and everyone benefits.

Job 36:29

Job 36:29Who can understand the spreading of the clouds
and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven?

Job 36:30

Job 36:30See how he spreads the lightning around him
and how it lights up the depths of the sea.

Job 36:31

Job 36:31By these mighty acts he nourishes[fn] the people,
giving them food in abundance.

Job 36:32

Job 36:32He fills his hands with lightning bolts
and hurls each at its target.

Job 36:33

Job 36:33The thunder announces his presence;
the storm announces his indignant anger.[fn]

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