New Living Translation

Berean Standard Bible

1Elihu continued speaking:

1And Elihu continued:

2“Let me go on, and I will show you the truth. For I have not finished defending God!

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 present profound arguments for the righteousness of my Creator.

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

4I am telling you nothing but the truth, for I am a man of great knowledge.

4For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.

5“God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone! He is mighty in both power and understanding.

5Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.

6He does not let the wicked live but gives justice to the afflicted.

6He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.

7He never takes his eyes off the innocent, but he sets them on thrones with kings and exalts them forever.

7He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.

8If they are bound in chains and caught up in a web of trouble,

8And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,

9he shows them the reason. He shows them their sins of pride.

9then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.

10He gets their attention and commands that they turn from evil.

10He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.

11“If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant.

11If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.

12But if they refuse to listen to him, they will cross over the river of death, dying from lack of understanding.

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

13For the godless are full of resentment. Even when he punishes them, they refuse to cry out to him for help.

13The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.

14They die when they are young, after wasting their lives in immoral living.

14They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.

15But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity.

15God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.

16“God is leading you away from danger, Job, to a place free from distress. He is setting your table with the best food.

16Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.

17But you are obsessed with whether the godless will be judged. Don’t worry, judgment and justice will be upheld.

17But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.

18But watch out, or you may be seduced by wealth. Don’t let yourself be bribed into sin.

18Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.

19Could all your wealth or all your mighty efforts keep you from distress?

19Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?

20Do not long for the cover of night, for that is when people will be destroyed.

20Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.

21Be on guard! Turn back from evil, for God sent this suffering to keep you from a life of evil. Elihu Reminds Job of God’s Power

21Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.

22“Look, God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him?

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

23No one can tell him what to do, or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’

23Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?

24Instead, glorify his mighty works, singing songs of praise.

24Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.

25Everyone has seen these things, though only from a distance.

25All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.

26“Look, God is greater than we can understand. His years cannot be counted.

26Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.

27He draws up the water vapor and then distills it into rain.

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

28The rain pours down from the clouds, and everyone benefits.

28which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.

29Who can understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven?

29Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?

30See how he spreads the lightning around him and how it lights up the depths of the sea.

30See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.

31By these mighty acts he nourishes the people, giving them food in abundance.

31For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.

32He fills his hands with lightning bolts and hurls each at its target.

32He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.

33The thunder announces his presence; the storm announces his indignant anger.

33The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.