1 E lihu also proceeded, and said,

2 S uffer 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 F or truly my words are not false: One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

5 B ehold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength of understanding.

6 H e preserveth not the life of the wicked, But giveth to the afflicted their right.

7 H e withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.

8 A nd if they be bound in fetters, And be taken in the cords of afflictions;

9 T hen he showeth them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

10 H e openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth that they return from iniquity.

11 I f they hearken and serve him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.

12 B ut if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.

13 B ut they that are godless in heart lay up anger: They cry not for help when he bindeth them.

14 T hey die in youth, And their life perisheth among the unclean.

15 H e delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression.

16 Y ea, 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 B ut thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold on thee.

18 F or let not wrath stir thee up against chastisements; Neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.

19 W ill thy cry avail, that thou be not in distress, Or all the forces of thy strength?

20 D esire not the night, When peoples are cut off in their place.

21 T ake heed, regard not iniquity: For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

22 B ehold, God doeth loftily in his power: Who is a teacher like unto him?

23 W ho hath enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?

24 R emember that thou magnify his work, Whereof men have sung.

25 A ll men have looked thereon; Man beholdeth it afar off.

26 B ehold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable.

27 F or he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from his vapor,

28 W hich the skies pour down And drop upon man abundantly.

29 Y ea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion?

30 B ehold, he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea.

31 F or by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.

32 H e covereth his hands with the lightning, And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.

33 T he noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up.