Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
1And Elihu continued: | 1Elihu continued speaking: |
2“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf. | 2“Let me go on, and I will show you the truth. For I have not finished defending God! |
3I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker. | 3I will present profound arguments for the righteousness of my Creator. |
4For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you. | 4I am telling you nothing but the truth, for I am a man of great knowledge. |
5Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding. | 5“God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone! He is mighty in both power and understanding. |
6He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted. | 6He does not let the wicked live but gives justice to the afflicted. |
7He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever. | 7He never takes his eyes off the innocent, but he sets them on thrones with kings and exalts them forever. |
8And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction, | 8If they are bound in chains and caught up in a web of trouble, |
9then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed. | 9he shows them the reason. He shows them their sins of pride. |
10He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity. | 10He gets their attention and commands that they turn from evil. |
11If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness. | 11“If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant. |
12But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge. | 12But if they refuse to listen to him, they will cross over the river of death, dying from lack of understanding. |
13The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help. | 13For the godless are full of resentment. Even when he punishes them, they refuse to cry out to him for help. |
14They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes. | 14They die when they are young, after wasting their lives in immoral living. |
15God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression. | 15But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity. |
16Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness. | 16“God is leading you away from danger, Job, to a place free from distress. He is setting your table with the best food. |
17But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you. | 17But you are obsessed with whether the godless will be judged. Don’t worry, judgment and justice will be upheld. |
18Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray. | 18But watch out, or you may be seduced by wealth. Don’t let yourself be bribed into sin. |
19Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress? | 19Could all your wealth or all your mighty efforts keep you from distress? |
20Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes. | 20Do not long for the cover of night, for that is when people will be destroyed. |
21Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction. | 21Be on guard! Turn back from evil, for God sent this suffering to keep you from a life of evil. Elihu Reminds Job of God’s Power |
22Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him? | 22“Look, God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him? |
23Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’? | 23No one can tell him what to do, or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’ |
24Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song. | 24Instead, glorify his mighty works, singing songs of praise. |
25All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar. | 25Everyone has seen these things, though only from a distance. |
26Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable. | 26“Look, God is greater than we can understand. His years cannot be counted. |
27For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist, | 27He draws up the water vapor and then distills it into rain. |
28which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind. | 28The rain pours down from the clouds, and everyone benefits. |
29Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion? | 29Who can understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven? |
30See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea. | 30See how he spreads the lightning around him and how it lights up the depths of the sea. |
31For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance. | 31By these mighty acts he nourishes the people, giving them food in abundance. |
32He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. | 32He fills his hands with lightning bolts and hurls each at its target. |
33The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm. | 33The thunder announces his presence; the storm announces his indignant anger. |
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