1 E lihu also proceeded and said:

Then Elihu continued and said,

2 “ Bear with me a little, and I will show you That there are yet words to speak 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 fetch my knowledge from afar; I 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 are not false; One 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 “ Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.

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

6 H e does not preserve the life of the wicked, But gives justice to the oppressed.

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

7 H e 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.

“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, Held in the cords of affliction,

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

9 T hen He tells them their work and their transgressions— That they have acted defiantly.

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

10 H e also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn 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 pleasures.

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

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

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

13 “ But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help 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 ends among the perverted persons.

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

15 H e delivers the poor in their affliction, And opens their ears in oppression.

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

16 “ 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.

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

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

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

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

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

20 D o not desire the night, When people are cut off in their place.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

25 E veryone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar.

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

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

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

27 F or He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist,

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

28 W hich the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man.

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

29 I ndeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy?

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

30 L ook, He scatters His light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea.

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

31 F or by these He judges 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 lightning, And commands it to strike.

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

33 H is thunder declares it, The cattle also, concerning the rising storm.

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