1 And Elihu went on to say,
2 Give me a little more time, and I will make it clear to you; for I have still something to say for God.
3 I will get my knowledge from far, and I will give righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false; one who has all knowledge is talking with you.
5 Truly, God gives up the hard-hearted, and will not give life to the sinner.
6 His eyes are ever on the upright, and he gives to the crushed their right;
7 Lifting them up to the seat of kings, and making them safe for ever.
8 And if they have been prisoned in chains, and taken in cords of trouble,
9 Then he makes clear to them what they have done, even their evil works in which they have taken pride.
10 Their ear is open to his teaching, and he gives them orders so that their hearts may be turned from evil.
11 If they give ear to his voice, and do his word, then he gives them long life, and years full of pleasure.
12 But if not, they come to their end, and give up their breath without knowledge.
13 Those who have no fear of God keep wrath stored up in their hearts; they give no cry for help when they are made prisoners.
14 They come to their end while they are still young, their life is short like that of those who are used for sex purposes in the worship of their gods.
15 He makes the wrong done to the poor the way of their salvation, opening their ears by their trouble.
16 ...
17 ...
18 ...
19 ...
20 ...
21 Take care not to be turned to sin, for you have taken evil for your part in place of sorrow.
22 Truly God is lifted up in strength; who is a ruler like him?
23 Who ever gave orders to him, or said to him, You have done wrong?
24 See that you give praise to his work, about which men make songs.
25 All people are looking on it; man sees it from far.
26 Truly, God is great, greater than all our knowledge; the number of his years may not be searched out.
27 For he takes up the drops from the sea; he sends them through his mist as rain,
28 Flowing down from the sky, and dropping on the peoples.
29 And who has knowledge of how the clouds are stretched out, or of the thunders of his tent?
30 See, he is stretching out his mist, covering the tops of the mountains with it.
31 For by these he gives food to the peoples, and bread in full measure.
32 He takes the light in his hands, sending it against the mark.
33 The thunder makes clear his passion, and the storm gives news of his wrath.
1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2 Suffer me a little, and I will show thee;
For I have yet somewhat to say on God’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar,
And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false:
One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any:
He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked,
But giveth to the afflicted their right.
7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous:
But with kings upon the throne
He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.
8 And if they be bound in fetters,
And be taken in the cords of affliction;
9 Then he showeth them their work,
And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
10 He openeth also their ear to instruction,
And commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11 If they hearken and serve him,
They shall spend their days in prosperity,
And their years in pleasures.
12 But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword,
And they shall die without knowledge.
13 But they that are godless in heart lay up anger:
They cry not for help when he bindeth them.
14 They die in youth,
And their life perisheth among the unclean.
15 He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction,
And openeth their ear in oppression.
16 Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress
Into a broad place, where there is no straitness;
And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness.
17 But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked:
Judgment and justice take hold on thee.
18 For let not wrath stir thee up against chastisements;
Neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.
19 Will thy cry avail, that thou be not in distress,
Or all the forces of thy strength?
20 Desire not the night,
When peoples are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity:
For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God doeth loftily in his power:
Who is a teacher like unto him?
23 Who hath enjoined him his way?
Or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work,
Whereof men have sung.
25 All men have looked thereon;
Man beholdeth it afar off.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not;
The number of his years is unsearchable.
27 For he draweth up the drops of water,
Which distil in rain from his vapor,
28 Which the skies pour down
And drop upon man abundantly.
29 Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds,
The thunderings of his pavilion?
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light around him;
And he covereth the bottom of the sea.
31 For by these he judgeth the peoples;
He giveth food in abundance.
32 He covereth his hands with the lightning,
And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.
33 The noise thereof telleth concerning him,
The cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up.