1 E lihu also proceeded, and said,

Elihu 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.

“Bear with me a little, and I will show you That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf.

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

I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

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

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

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

“Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.

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

He does not preserve the life of the wicked, But gives justice to the oppressed.

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.

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

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

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

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

Then He tells them their work and their transgressions— That they have acted defiantly.

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

He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity.

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

If they obey 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.

But if they do not obey, 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.

“But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them.

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

They die in youth, And their life ends among the perverted persons.

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

He delivers the poor in their affliction, And opens their ears 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.

“Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, Into a broad place where there is no restraint; And what is set on your table would be full of richness.

17 B ut thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold on thee.

But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.

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

Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow; For a large ransom would not help you avoid it.

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

Will your riches, Or all the mighty forces, Keep you from distress?

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

Do not desire the night, When people are cut off in their place.

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

Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction.

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

“Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him?

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

Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, ‘You have done wrong’? Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty

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

“Remember to magnify His work, Of which men have sung.

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

Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar.

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

“Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; Nor can the number of His years be discovered.

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

For He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist,

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

Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man.

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

Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy?

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

Look, He scatters His light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea.

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

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

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

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

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

His thunder declares it, The cattle also, concerning the rising storm.