Job 36

Job · Chapter 36

Job 36:21

1Elihu also proceeded, and said,2Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.3I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.4For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.5Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.6He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.7He 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.8And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;9Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.10He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.11If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.12But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.13But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.14They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.15He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.16Even 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.17But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.18Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.19Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.20Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.21Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.22Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?23Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?24Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.25Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.26Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.27For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:28Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.29Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?30Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.31For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.32With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.33The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
21Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.Take heed, regard not iniquity: For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
take heedהִ֭שָּׁמֶרHI-sha-merH8104J
to keep: obey

שָׁמַר (sha.mar) : obey/observe 1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to keep, have charge of 1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life 1a2a) watch, watchman (participle) 1a3) to watch for, wait for 1a4) to watch, observe 1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory) 1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain 1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow) 1a8) to keep, preserve, protect 1a9) to keep, reserve 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware 1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain 1b3) to be kept, be guarded …

may notאַל־'al-H0408
not

אַל (al) 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

you turnתֵּ֣פֶןTE-fenH6437G
to turn

פָּנָה (pa.nah) 1) to turn 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn toward or from or away 1a2) to turn and do 1a3) to turn, decline (of day) 1a4) to turn toward, approach (of evening) 1a5) to turn and look, look, look back or at or after or for 1b) (Piel) to turn away, put out of the way, make clear, clear away 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to turn 1c2) to make a turn, show signs of turning, turn back 1d) (Hophal) to be turned back

toאֶל־'el-H0413
to(wards)

אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

wickednessאָ֑וֶן'A-venH0205G
evil: wickedness

אָ֫וֶן (a.ven) 1) trouble, wickedness, sorrow 1a) trouble, sorrow 1b) idolatry 1c) trouble of iniquity, wickedness Also means: a.ven (אָ֫וֶן ": trouble" H0205H)

forכִּֽי־ki-H3588A
for

כִּי (ki) 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

onעַל־'al-H5921A
upon

עַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) …

thisזֶ֝֗הZehH2088
that

דִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because

you have chosenבָּחַ֥רְתָּba-CHAR-taH0977
to choose

בָּחַר (ba.char) 1) to choose, elect, decide for 1a) (Qal) to choose 1b) (Niphal) to be chosen 1c) (Pual) to be chosen, selected

more than afflictionמֵעֹֽנִי׃me-'O-niH6040
affliction

עֳנִי (o.ni) 1) affliction, poverty, misery 1a) affliction 1b) poverty

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.