King James Bible | Berean Study Bible |
1Elihu also proceeded, and said, | 1And Elihu continued: |
2Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf. | 2“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf. |
3I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. | 3I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker. |
4For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. | 4For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you. |
5Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. | 5Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding. |
6He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. | 6He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted. |
7He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. | 7He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever. |
8And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; | 8And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction, |
9Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. | 9then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed. |
10He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. | 10He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity. |
11If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. | 11If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness. |
12But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. | 12But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge. |
13But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. | 13The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help. |
14They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean. | 14They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes. |
15He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. | 15God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression. |
16Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness. | 16Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness. |
17But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. | 17But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you. |
18Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. | 18Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray. |
19Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. | 19Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress? |
20Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. | 20Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes. |
21Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. | 21Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction. |
22Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? | 22Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him? |
23Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? | 23Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’? |
24Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. | 24Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song. |
25Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. | 25All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar. |
26Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. | 26Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable. |
27For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: | 27For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist, |
28Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. | 28which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind. |
29Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? | 29Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion? |
30Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. | 30See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea. |
31For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. | 31For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance. |
32With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. | 32He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. |
33The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour. | 33The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm. |
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