BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Reconciliations of Earnings from Continuing Operations to Adjusted Operating Profit) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2021	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2021
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Net earnings	$ 312,429	$ 130,408	$ 928,632	$ 260,552
Interest expense	13,433	11,965	36,479	40,245
Income taxes	92,590	38,175	247,894	80,709
Depreciation and amortization	43,583	41,804	125,943	125,176
Asset impairments	3,245	277
Amortization of acquired unfavorable contract backlog	0	(1,508)	0	(4,540)
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 465,280	$ 221,121	$ 1,343,421	$ 506,487