1 T hen Elihu continued and said,

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

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

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

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

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

9 T hen He declares to them their work And their transgressions, that they have magnified themselves.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

28 W hich the clouds pour down, They drip upon man abundantly.

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

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

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

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

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