Job 36

1 And Elihu [the friend of Job, He is my God] continued [proceeded, added to his previous words]: word study 2 “Bear with me [suffer me, be patient with me] a little [a small amount of time, briefly] longer, and I will show you [explain, declare, make known] that there is more [still, yet, additional] to be said [spoken, declared] on God’s [Eloah, the one true deity] behalf [for His sake, in His name]. word study 3 I get my knowledge [from many sources, afar] from afar, and I will ascribe [attribute, give] justice [righteousness, what is fair] to my Maker [Creator, the one who formed me]. word study 4 For truly [assuredly, without a doubt] my words [speech, declarations] are free of falsehood [deception, lies]; one perfect [unblemished, complete] in knowledge [deep understanding, insight] is with [together, in companionship] you. word study 5 Indeed, God [the supreme Almighty] is mighty [powerful, strong], but He despises [rejects, spurns] no one; He is mighty [all-powerful, vast in extent] in strength [power, ability] of understanding [heart, intellect, wisdom]. word study 6 He does not [absolutely refuses to] keep the wicked [morally corrupt, guilty of sin] alive, but He grants [gives, bestows upon] justice [righteous judgment] to the afflicted [crushed, oppressed, depressed]. word study 7 He does not [withdraw or turn away] take His eyes [the source of His watchful care] off the righteous [those who are just and upright, having God’s nature], but He enthrones [establishes and exalts] them with [near or alongside] kings [those in positions of royal authority] and exalts [lifts up and honors] them forever [for all eternity, in perpetuity]. word study 8 And if men [prisoners, those who commit crimes] are bound [tied down, fettered] with chains [missiles, metal fetters], caught [seized, taken] in cords [ropes, bonds] of affliction [misery, trouble, hardship], word study 9 then He tells [declares openly, makes known] them their deeds [work, actions] and how [in what manner, to what extent] arrogantly [proudly, with exceeding pride] they have transgressed [rebelled, sinned against God]. word study 10 He opens [uncovereth, reveals] their ears [to hear, to listen] to correction [discipline, instruction] and commands [speaks, says] that they turn [return, turn back] from iniquity [evil, wickedness]. word study 11 If they obey [listen and heed] and serve [work for, worship] Him, then they end [complete, fulfill] their days [lives, time on earth] in prosperity [good, welfare, happiness] and their years [periods of time, seasons] in happiness [pleasantness, pleasures, joy]. word study 12 But if [in the event that, whether] they do not [refuse to, are unwilling to] obey [listen and heed, respond with faith], then they perish [die a violent death, meet a fatal end] by the [missile, dart or] sword [weapon of war, instrument of judgment] and die [expire, cease to exist] without [lacking, devoid of] knowledge [understanding, spiritual insight]. word study 13 The godless [profane, hypocritical] in heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] harbor [store up, lay up] resentment [anger, bitterness]; even when He [God, the supreme Judge] binds [ties, disciplines] them, they do not [refuse to] cry [shout, call out] for help [freedom, deliverance]. word study 14 They die [in the prime of life, prematurely] in their youth [early years, from childhood to young adulthood], among the [male cult prostitute, unclean, idolatrous] male shrine prostitutes [those who practice immorality in the name of religion]. word study 15 God [the Almighty, Deliverer] rescues [delivers, sets free] the afflicted [poor, humble, or weak] by their affliction [trouble, misery, or hardship] and opens [reveals, uncovers] their ears [ability to hear, listen] in oppression [cruel or unfair treatment, distress]. word study 16 Indeed, He drew you [out of trouble, from distress] from the jaws [lip, edge] of distress [narrow place, adversity] to a spacious [broad, wide] and broad [wide, expansive] place [area, location], to a table [a place of communion] full [complete, abundant] of richness [fatness, abundance, dashing]. word study 17 But now you are laden [filled, preoccupied] with the judgment [a legal suit] due the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin]; judgment [a cause, a plea] and justice [righteousness, God’s righteous judgment] have seized [grasped, taken hold] you. word study 18 Be careful [beware, watch out] that no one lures [seduces, deceives] you with riches [wealth, material possessions]; do not let a large [great, abundant] bribe [ransom, gift] lead [turn, deceive] you astray [into sin, away from what is right]. word study 19 Can your wealth [riches, or gold] or all your mighty effort [strength, or power] keep you from distress [trouble, or hardship]? word study 20 Do not [desire or hasten eagerly] long for the night [when people are cut off, a time of darkness], when people [nations or a group of individuals] vanish [are suddenly taken away or cut off] from their homes [their place or location]. word study 21 Be careful [watch out, take heed] not to turn [face, look towards] to iniquity [evil, wickedness, trouble], for this [on this account, because of this] you have preferred [chosen, selected] to affliction [misery, hardship, suffering]. word study 22 Behold [look, see, take notice], God [the Almighty, divine strength] is exalted [lifted up, elevated] in His power [strength, might]. Who [what person, which one] is a teacher [instructor, guide, one who shows] like [similar to, comparable with] Him? word study 23 Who [the one inquiring] has appointed [to reckon, oversee, or prescribe] His way [path, journey, or manner of life] for Him, or told [to say, command, or speak] Him, ‘You have done [worked, acted, or committed] wrong’? word study 24 Remember [to recall, to mark in your mind] to magnify [to grow great, to increase in importance] His work [deeds, accomplishments], which [that, referring to His mighty acts] men [human beings, individuals] have praised [sung about, celebrated] in song [music, hymns of worship]. word study 25 All [every, the whole of] mankind [humanity, people] has seen [looked upon, beheld] it; men [people, humanity] behold [look, gaze] it from afar [at a distance, far away]. word study 26 Indeed, God [the supreme Being, Almighty] is great [mighty, powerful]—beyond our knowledge [understanding, comprehension]; the number [quantity, amount] of His years [time, eternity] is unsearchable [cannot be found out, incomprehensible]. word study 27 For [because of this reason] He draws up [lifts, gathers] drops [small droplets, refined particles] of water [liquid refreshment, H2O] which distill [are refined, purified] the rain [precipitation, heavenly showers] from the mist [fog, vapor, cloud cover], word study 28 which [flowing down from the sky] the clouds [thin vapors in the sky] pour out [dropping, distilling] and shower [pour down, drip] abundantly [plentifully, in great quantity] on [above, upon] mankind [humanity, the man, Adam]. word study 29 Furthermore [in addition to this], who can understand [discern, comprehend] how the clouds [dark masses of water vapor, a sign of God’s presence] spread out [are stretched out, expanded], how the thunder [a loud, crashing noise] roars [shouts, makes a loud clamor] from His pavilion [His tabernacle, a temporary dwelling place, sukkat/wo]? word study 30 See how [look, behold] He scatters [spreads, stretches out] His lightning [light, divine radiance] around Him [upon, over] and covers [hides, conceals] the depths [bottom, roots] of the sea [ocean, large body of water]. word study 31 For [because of this reason] by these [actions, means] He [the Almighty] judges [governs, rules over] the nations [peoples, countries] and provides [gives, supplies] food [sustenance, nourishment] in [with, characterized by] abundance [plenty, richly]. word study 32 He fills [covers, hides] His hands [palms] with lightning [the light] and commands [gives charge, to appoint] it to strike [to fall on] its mark [the target]. word study 33 The thunder [a loud crash, shouting] declares [tells, makes known] His presence [upon the scene, in power]; even the cattle [livestock, domestic animals] regard [are aware of, know about] the rising [ascending, coming up] storm [tempest, vapor]. word study