Job 36:20
18 Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.
19 Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?
Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.
21 Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.
- KJV
- Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
- WEB
- Don’t desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
- ASV
- Desire not the night, When peoples are cut off in their place.
- DARBY
- Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off from their place.
- BLB
- Do not long for the night, for the coming up of peoples in place of them.
- ÅB
- Stund ikke etter natten, den natt da hele folkeslag blåses bort fra sitt sted!
- OTB
- Leng ikke etter natten,
når folk blir tatt fra sine steder. - B1930
- Stund ikke efter natten, den natt da hele folkeslag blåses bort fra sitt sted!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Job 34:20
They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
Read in contextExodus 12:29
Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock.
Read in contextJob 34:25
Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
Read in context2 Kings 19:35
And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!
Read in contextJob 14:13
If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me!
Read in contextLuke 12:20
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
Read in contextJob 7:15
so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body.
Read in contextActs 1:25
to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.”
Read in context