| International Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1Elihu responded again and said: | 1Elihu continued: |
| 2"Be patient with me a moment longer, and I'll show you that there's more to say on God's behalf. | 2"Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God's behalf. |
| 3I'll take what I know to its logical conclusion and ascribe righteousness to my Creator, | 3I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker. |
| 4because what I have to say isn't deceptive, and the one who has perfect knowledge is with you." | 4Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you. |
| 5"Indeed God is mighty and he doesn't show disrespect; he is mighty and strong of heart. | 5"God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose. |
| 6He doesn't let the wicked live; he grants justice to the afflicted. | 6He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights. |
| 7He won't stop looking at righteous people; he seats them on thrones with kings forever, and they are exalted. | 7He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever. |
| 8"If they're bound in chains, caught in ropes of affliction, | 8But if people are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction, |
| 9he'll reveal their actions to them, when their transgressions have become excessive. | 9he tells them what they have done-- that they have sinned arrogantly. |
| 10He opens their ears and instructs them, commanding them to repent from evil. | 10He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. |
| 11If they listen and serve him, they'll finish their lives in prosperity and their years will be pleasant. | 11If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. |
| 12"But if they won't listen, they'll perish by the sword and die in their ignorance. | 12But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge. |
| 13The godless at heart cherish anger; they won't cry out for help when God afflicts them. | 13"The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help. |
| 14They die in their youth; and their life will end among temple prostitutes. | 14They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines. |
| 15He'll deliver the afflicted through their afflictions and open their ears when they are oppressed." | 15But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. |
| 16"Indeed, he drew you away from the brink of distress to a spacious place without constraints, filling your festive table with bountiful food. | 16"He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. |
| 17But now you are occupied with the case of the wicked; but justice and judgment will be served. | 17But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you. |
| 18So that no one entices you with riches, don't let a large ransom turn you astray. | 18Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside. |
| 19"Will your wealth sustain you when you're in distress, despite your most powerful efforts? | 19Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress? |
| 20Don't long for night, when people vanish in their place. | 20Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes. |
| 21Be careful! Don't turn to evil, because of this you will be tried by more than affliction. | 21Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction. |
| 22"Indeed, God is exalted in his power. Who is like him as a teacher? | 22"God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him? |
| 23Who ordained his path for him, and who has asked him, 'You are wrong, aren't you?' | 23Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, 'You have done wrong'? |
| 24Remember to magnify his awesome activities, about which mortal man has sung. | 24Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song. |
| 25All of mankind sees him; human beings observe him from afar off." | 25All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar. |
| 26"God is truly awesome, beyond what we know; the number of his years is unknowable. | 26How great is God--beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out. |
| 27He draws up drops of water, distilling it to rain and mist. | 27"He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; |
| 28When the clouds pour down; they drop their rain on all of humanity. | 28the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. |
| 29"Furthermore, can anyone understand cloud patterns, or the thundering in his pavilion? | 29Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion? |
| 30He scatters his lightning above it, and covers the bottom of the sea. | 30See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea. |
| 31He uses them to judge some people and give food to many. | 31This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance. |
| 32His hands are covered with lightning that he commands to strike his designated target. | 32He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. |
| 33His thunder declares his presence; and tells the animals what is coming." | 33His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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