New American Standard Bible 1995

International Standard Version

1Then Elihu continued and said,

1Elihu responded again and said:

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

2"Be patient with me a moment longer, and I'll show you that there's more to say on God's behalf.

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

3I'll take what I know to its logical conclusion and ascribe righteousness to my Creator,

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

4because what I have to say isn't deceptive, and the one who has perfect knowledge is with you."

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

5"Indeed God is mighty and he doesn't show disrespect; he is mighty and strong of heart.

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

6He doesn't let the wicked live; he grants justice to the afflicted.

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.

7He won't stop looking at righteous people; he seats them on thrones with kings forever, and they are exalted.

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

8"If they're bound in chains, caught in ropes of affliction,

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

9he'll reveal their actions to them, when their transgressions have become excessive.

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

10He opens their ears and instructs them, commanding them to repent from evil.

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

11If they listen and serve him, they'll finish their lives in prosperity and their years will be pleasant.

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

12"But if they won't listen, they'll perish by the sword and die in their ignorance.

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

13The godless at heart cherish anger; they won't cry out for help when God afflicts them.

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

14They die in their youth; and their life will end among temple prostitutes.

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

15He'll deliver the afflicted through their afflictions and open their ears when they are oppressed."

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.

16"Indeed, he drew you away from the brink of distress to a spacious place without constraints, filling your festive table with bountiful food.

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

17But now you are occupied with the case of the wicked; but justice and judgment will be served.

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

18So that no one entices you with riches, don't let a large ransom turn you astray.

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

19"Will your wealth sustain you when you're in distress, despite your most powerful efforts?

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

20Don't long for night, when people vanish in their place.

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

21Be careful! Don't turn to evil, because of this you will be tried by more than affliction.

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

22"Indeed, God is exalted in his power. Who is like him as a teacher?

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

23Who ordained his path for him, and who has asked him, 'You are wrong, aren't you?'

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

24Remember to magnify his awesome activities, about which mortal man has sung.

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

25All of mankind sees him; human beings observe him from afar off."

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

26"God is truly awesome, beyond what we know; the number of his years is unknowable.

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

27He draws up drops of water, distilling it to rain and mist.

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

28When the clouds pour down; they drop their rain on all of humanity.

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

29"Furthermore, can anyone understand cloud patterns, or the thundering in his pavilion?

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

30He scatters his lightning above it, and covers the bottom of the sea.

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

31He uses them to judge some people and give food to many.

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

32His hands are covered with lightning that he commands to strike his designated target.

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

33His thunder declares his presence; and tells the animals what is coming."

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.