Job 36:7

Job 36:7

5 “Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one;
^aHe is mighty in strength¹ of understanding.

6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked,
But gives justice to the ^aoppressed.

7 ^aHe does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But ^bthey are on the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever,
And they are exalted.

8 And ^aif they are bound in fetters,
Held in the cords of affliction,

9 Then He tells them their work and their transgressions—
That they have acted¹ defiantly.

10 ^aHe also opens their ear to¹ instruction,
And commands that they turn from iniquity.

11 If they obey and serve Him,
They shall ^aspend 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 die¹ without ^aknowledge.

13 “But the hypocrites in heart ^astore up wrath;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.

14 ^aThey¹ die in youth,
And their life ends among the¹ perverted persons.

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,
^aInto a broad place where there is no restraint;
And ^bwhat is set on your table would be full of ^crichness.

17 But you are filled with the judgment due the ^awicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.

18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow;
For ^aa large ransom would not help you avoid it.

Commentaries:

Barnes' Notes

<< Job 36:6

Job 36:8 >>

He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous - That is, he constantly observes them, whether they are in the more elevated or humble ranks of life. Even though he afflicts them, his eye is upon them, and he does not forsake them. It will be remembered that one of the difficulties to be accounted for was, that they who professed to be righteous are subjected to severe trials. The friends of Job had maintained that such a fact was in itself proof that they who professed to be pious were not so, but were hypocrites. Job had verged to the other extreme, and had said that it looked as if God had forsaken those that loved him, and that there was no advantage in being righteous; notes, Job 35:2. Elihu takes a middle ground, and says that neither was the correct opinion. It is true, he says, that the righteous are afflicted, but they are not forsaken. The eye of God is still upon them, and he watches over them, whether on the throne or in dungeons, in order "to bring good results" out of their trials.

But with kings are they on the throne - That is, if the righteous are in the state of the highest earthly honor and prosperity, God is with them, and is their protector and friend. The same thing Elihu, in the following verses, says is true respecting the righteous, when they are in the most down-trodden and depressed condition.

Yea, he doth establish them for ever - The meaning of this is, that they are regarded by God with favor. When righteous kings "are" thus prospered, and have a permanent and peaceful reign, it is God who gives this prosperity to them. They are under his watchful eye, and his protecting hand.

**Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Job 36:7:**

Psalms 34:15
Isaiah 25:8
1 Corinthians 15:54

<< Job 36:6

Job 36:8 >>

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