36:7 He does not take his eyes 1 off the righteous;
but with kings on the throne
he seats the righteous 2 and exalts them forever. 3
36:8 But if they are bound in chains, 4
and held captive by the cords of affliction,
36:9 then he reveals 5 to them what they have done, 6
and their transgressions,
that they were behaving proudly.
36:17 But now you are preoccupied with the judgment due the wicked,
judgment and justice take hold of you.
36:18 Be careful that 7 no one entices you with riches;
do not let a large bribe 8 turn you aside.
1 tc Many commentators accept the change of “his eyes” to “his right” (reading דִּינוֹ [dino] for עֵינָיו [’enayv]). There is no compelling reason for the change; it makes the line commonplace.
2 tn Heb “them”; the referent (the righteous) has been repeated from the first part of the verse for clarity.
3 tn Heb “he seats them forever and exalts them.” The last verb can be understood as expressing a logical consequence of the preceding action (cf. GKC 328 §111.l = “he seats them forever so that he exalts them”). Or the two verbs can be taken as an adverbial hendiadys whereby the first modifies the second adverbially: “he exalts them by seating them forever” or “when he seats them forever” (cf. GKC 326 §111.d). Some interpret this verse to say that God seats kings on the throne, making a change in subject in the middle of the verse. But it makes better sense to see the righteous as the subject matter throughout – they are not only protected, but are exalted.
4 tn Dhorme thinks that the verse is still talking about kings, who may be in captivity. But this diverts attention from Elihu’s emphasis on the righteous.
5 tn The verb נָגַד (nagad) means “to declare; to tell.” Here it is clear that God is making known the sins that caused the enslavement or captivity, so “reveal” makes a good interpretive translation.
6 tn Heb “their work.”
7 tn The first expression is idiomatic: the text says, “because wrath lest it entice you” – thus, beware.
8 tn The word is כֹּפֶר (kofer), often translated “ransom,” but frequently in the sense of a bribe.