1 A nd Elihu proceeded and said,

Elihu also proceeded and said:

2 S uffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet words for +God.

“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 Creator.

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

4 F or truly my words shall be no falsehood: one perfect in knowledge is with thee.

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

5 L o, God is mighty, but despiseth not; mighty in strength of understanding:

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

6 H e saveth not the wicked alive; but he doeth justice to the afflicted.

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 on the throne doth he even set 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, bound in fetters, they be held in cords of affliction,

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

9 T hen he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions, because they have increased.

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

10 A nd he openeth their ear to discipline, 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, they shall accomplish 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 pass away by the sword, and expire without knowledge.

But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.

13 B ut the godless in heart heap up anger; they cry not when he bindeth them:

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

14 T heir soul dieth in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

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

15 B ut he delivereth the afflicted in his affliction, and openeth their ear in oppression.

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

16 E ven so would he have allured thee out of the jaws of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and the supply of thy table 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 judgments of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold.

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

18 B ecause there is wrath, lest it take thee away through chastisement: then a great ransom could not avail thee.

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 he esteem thy riches? Not gold, nor all the resources of strength!

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

20 D esire not the night, when peoples are cut off from their place.

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

21 T ake heed, turn not to 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 L o, God is exalted in his power: who teacheth as he?

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

23 W ho hath appointed him his way? or who hath said, 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, which men celebrate.

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

25 A ll men look at it; man beholdeth afar off.

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

26 L o, God is great, and we comprehend not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

“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: they distil in rain from the vapour which he formeth,

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

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

Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man.

29 B ut can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the crashing of his pavilion?

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

30 L o, he spreadeth his light around him, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

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

31 F or with them he judgeth the peoples; he giveth food in abundance.

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

32 h ands he covereth with lightning, and commandeth it where it is to strike.

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

33 H is thundering declareth concerning him; the cattle even, concerning its coming.

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