Job 35


Elihu continues to speak.

Elihu wanted Job to think about what he said to the 3 friends. Job said that he behaved better than God. Job asked why he should obey God.
[1] Elihu spake moreover, and said,
[2] Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?
[3] For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?


Elihu told Job and his friends to look up in the sky. They will see clouds that are very, very high. The clouds are higher than all of them. Elihu says that if they sin a little or a lot, it doesn't hurt God. If they obey God, it doesn't help Him.
[4] I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.
[5] Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.
[6] If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
[7] If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?
 

Job's sins may hurt men or his good behavior may help other men.
[8] Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.


People who are having problems pray and cry to God.  But when they are not having problems, they don't thank God. They don't think about the ways God has helped them.
[9] By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.
[10] But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;
[11] Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?
 

When they need help again, they pray and cry to God.  God will not answer them because they are not grateful. They are too proud and think they are too good.
[12] There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.
[13] Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.


Job said that God doesn't see him.  Elihu says that God sees him and will answer him. Job needs to wait. God may be angry with Job and is waiting to answer. When Job keeps talking, he is continuing to show his ignorance.
[14] Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.
[15] But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:
[16] Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.
 

Job 36

Elihu continued to talk.  He asks them to be patient and listen to him. He says that he is talking for God.  He says his words are true. He is saying the truth.
[1] 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.


God is powerful. He does not hate anyone. He is strong and wise.  He treats poor people fairly. He does not save the bad people. He always sees the good things people do.  He sets up kings to be leaders forever.
[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.


If people are having problems, God will show them what they have done wrong. He helps them see their sins. He commands them to stop sinning.
[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.


If people obey and serve God, they will be happy. They will be successful. If they do not obey God, they will die. They will not know anything.
[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.
 

People who are hypocrites (say one thing, but behave differently) make God angry. They live with other people who sin. They die when they are young.
[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.


God helps people who are poor. While they are suffering, they hear Him talking to them.
[15] He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.


Elihu says that God would have helped Job more if he behaved differently. He would have made his life good again.
[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.
 

But God is punishing Job. Job is getting what he deserves.
[17] But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.


God does not look at a man's money. If a man is rich, he will still be punished.
[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.


Elihu warns Job not to wish it was night time. People die in the night time.
[20] Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.


He warns him not to love sin.  He says that Job has sinned instead of accepting his suffering.
[21] Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.


God is powerful. No one is a better teacher than God.  No one can say that God makes mistakes.
[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?


People can see God's beautiful work.
[24] Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
[25] Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.


We know that God is great. He is mysterious. We don't know how old he is. God makes the rain that falls on the earth.  He makes the clouds and lightning.
[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.


Man cannot understand how God makes the clouds and the thunder.  His lightning covers the earth and the bottom of the sea.
[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.


God uses the lightning and thunder to judge people on earth.  His rain makes the food grow.  He covers the light with clouds.  When a storm is coming, there is thunder. Even the cattle hear the thunder and know that rain is coming.
[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.
 

Job 37

Elihu also is afraid when he hears storms coming. His heart beats fast.
[1] At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.


He warns Job and his friends to hear God.  God makes the lightning go to all ends of the earth.
[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.


After the lightning, there is thunder.  God's voice is loud. God does great things. We can't understand the great things that God does.
[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.

 

These are some of the things that God does:

God tells the snow when to fall on earth.  He tells the rain to fall a little or a lot. Where there is too much or too little rain, man cannot work. Man sees that God is powerful.
[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.
 

The animals go into their homes and stay there.
[8] Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
 

God makes the wind blow. When it comes from the south, it is warm. When it comes from the north, it is cold.
[9] Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.


God breathes on the water to make it cold. The rivers freeze into ice.
[10] By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.


God moves the clouds around. He tells them where to go to make rain. He can punish people by sending too much or too little rain.
[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.


Elihu tells Job to think about the wonderful things that God does.
[14] Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.


Elihu asks Job if he knows when God sends the clouds to make rain and make lightning.
[15] Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?


He asks if Job knows how the clouds hang in the sky.  Only God knows this.
[16] Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?


When God makes the wind warm, Job's clothes are hot.
[17] How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?


Elihu asks if Job helped God make the sky.
[18] Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?


Man cannot know what to say to God.  Man cannot argue with God. God is too great, and man is too small.
[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.


Man cannot see the sun if there are clouds. After the wind blows the clouds away, then we can see the sun.
[21] And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.


God sends good weather out of the north.
[22] Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.


God is powerful and fair. He does not punish innocent people.
[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.


Men respect God. God does not respect men who think they are too smart.
[24] Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.