New International Version | King James Bible |
1Elihu continued: | 1Elihu also proceeded, and said, |
2"Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God's behalf. | 2Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf. |
3I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker. | 3I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. |
4Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you. | 4For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. |
5"God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose. | 5Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. |
6He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights. | 6He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. |
7He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever. | 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. |
8But if people are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction, | 8And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; |
9he tells them what they have done-- that they have sinned arrogantly. | 9Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. |
10He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. | 10He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. |
11If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. | 11If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. |
12But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge. | 12But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. |
13"The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help. | 13But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. |
14They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines. | 14They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean. |
15But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. | 15He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. |
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. | 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. |
17But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you. | 17But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. |
18Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside. | 18Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. |
19Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress? | 19Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. |
20Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes. | 20Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. |
21Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction. | 21Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. |
22"God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him? | 22Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? |
23Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, 'You have done wrong'? | 23Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? |
24Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song. | 24Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. |
25All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar. | 25Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. |
26How great is God--beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out. | 26Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. |
27"He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; | 27For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: |
28the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. | 28Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. |
29Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion? | 29Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? |
30See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea. | 30Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. |
31This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance. | 31For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. |
32He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. | 32With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. |
33His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach. | 33The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour. |
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