English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1And Elihu continued, and said:

1Then Elihu continued and said,

2“Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God’s behalf.

2"Wait for me a little, and I will show you That there is yet more to be said in God's behalf.

3I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

3"I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

4For truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

4"For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

5“Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding.

5"Behold, God is mighty but does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding.

6He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right.

6"He does not keep the wicked alive, But gives justice to the afflicted.

7He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne he sets them forever, and they are exalted.

7"He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But with kings on the throne He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.

8And if they are bound in chains and caught in the cords of affliction,

8"And if they are bound in fetters, And are caught in the cords of affliction,

9then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.

9Then He declares to them their work And their transgressions, that they have magnified themselves.

10He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from iniquity.

10"He opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they return from evil.

11If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness.

11"If they hear and serve Him, They will end their days in prosperity And their years in pleasures.

12But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

12"But if they do not hear, they shall perish by the sword And they will die without knowledge.

13“The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them.

13"But the godless in heart lay up anger; They do not cry for help when He binds them.

14They die in youth, and their life ends among the cult prostitutes.

14"They die in youth, And their life perishes among the cult prostitutes.

15He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity.

15"He delivers the afflicted in their affliction, And opens their ear in time of oppression.

16He also allured you out of distress into a broad place where there was no cramping, and what was set on your table was full of fatness.

16"Then indeed, He enticed you from the mouth of distress, Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint; And that which was set on your table was full of fatness.

17“But you are full of the judgment on the wicked; judgment and justice seize you.

17"But you were full of judgment on the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.

18Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing, and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.

18"Beware that wrath does not entice you to scoffing; And do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.

19Will your cry for help avail to keep you from distress, or all the force of your strength?

19"Will your riches keep you from distress, Or all the forces of your strength?

20Do not long for the night, when peoples vanish in their place.

20"Do not long for the night, When people vanish in their place.

21Take care; do not turn to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction.

21"Be careful, do not turn to evil, For you have preferred this to affliction.

22Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?

22"Behold, God is exalted in His power; Who is a teacher like Him?

23Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, ‘You have done wrong’?

23"Who has appointed Him His way, And who has said, 'You have done wrong '?

24“Remember to extol his work, of which men have sung.

24"Remember that you should exalt His work, Of which men have sung.

25All mankind has looked on it; man beholds it from afar.

25"All men have seen it; Man beholds from afar.

26Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.

26"Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him; The number of His years is unsearchable.

27For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain,

27"For He draws up the drops of water, They distill rain from the mist,

28which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly.

28Which the clouds pour down, They drip upon man abundantly.

29Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?

29"Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, The thundering of His pavilion?

30Behold, he scatters his lightning about him and covers the roots of the sea.

30"Behold, He spreads His lightning about Him, And He covers the depths of the sea.

31For by these he judges peoples; he gives food in abundance.

31"For by these He judges peoples; He gives food in abundance.

32He covers his hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark.

32"He covers His hands with the lightning, And commands it to strike the mark.

33Its crashing declares his presence; the cattle also declare that he rises.

33"Its noise declares His presence; The cattle also, concerning what is coming up.

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