1 E lihu proceeded and said,

Then Elihu continued and said,

2 B ear with me and wait a little longer, and I will show you, for I have something still to say on God’s behalf.

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

3 I will bring my knowledge from afar and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

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

4 F or truly my words shall not be false; He Who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

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

5 B ehold! God is mighty, and yet despises no one nor regards anything as trivial; He is mighty in power of understanding and heart.

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

6 H e does not prolong the life of the wicked, but gives the needy and afflicted their right.

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

7 H e withdraws not His eyes from the righteous (the upright in right standing with God); but He sets them forever with kings upon the throne, and they are exalted.

“He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But with kings on the throne He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.

8 A nd if they are bound in fetters and held by cords of affliction,

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

9 T hen He shows to them their deeds and their transgressions, that they have acted arrogantly.

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

10 H e also opens their ears to instruction and discipline, and commands that they return from iniquity.

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

11 I f they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness and joy.

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

12 B ut if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die in ignorance of true knowledge.

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

13 B ut the godless and profane in heart heap up anger; they do not cry to Him when He binds them.

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

14 T hey die in youth, and their life perishes among the unclean (those who are sodomites).

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

15 H e delivers the afflicted in their affliction and opens their ears in adversity.

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

16 I ndeed, God would have allured you out of the mouth of distress into a broad place where there is no situation of perplexity or privation; and that which would be set on your table would be full of fatness.

“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.

17 B ut if you are filled with the judgment of the wicked, judgment and justice will keep hold on you.

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

18 F or let not wrath entice you into scorning chastisements; and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.

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

19 W ill your cry be sufficient to keep you from distress, or will all the force of your strength do it?

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

20 D esire not the night, when peoples are cut off from their places;

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

21 T ake heed, turn not to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction.

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

22 B ehold, God exalts and does loftily in His power; who is a ruler or a teacher like Him?

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

23 W ho has appointed God His way? Or who can say, You have done unrighteousness?

“Who has appointed Him His way, And who has said, ‘ You have done wrong’?

24 R emember that you magnify God’s work, of which men have sung.

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

25 A ll men have looked upon God’s work; man may behold it afar off.

“All men have seen it; Man beholds from afar.

26 B ehold, God is great, and we know Him not! The number of His years is unsearchable.

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

27 F or He draws up the drops of water, which distil as rain from His vapor,

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

28 W hich the skies pour down and drop abundantly upon mankind.

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

29 N ot only that, but can anyone understand the spreadings of the clouds or the thunderings of His pavilion?

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

30 B ehold, He spreads His lightning against the dark clouds and covers the roots of the sea.

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

31 F or by God executes judgment upon the peoples; He gives food in abundance.

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

32 H e covers His hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark.

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

33 H is thunderings speak concerning Him; the cattle are told of His coming storm.

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