1 T hen Elihu spoke more and said,

2 “ Wait for me a little longer, and I will show you that there is yet more to be said for God.

3 I bring my learning from far away, and will tell how right and good my Maker is.

4 F or sure my words are not false. One who is perfect in much learning is with you.

5 “ See, God is powerful, but does not hate anyone. He is powerful in strength of understanding.

6 H e does not keep the sinful alive, but gives what is right and fair to those who are troubled.

7 H e does not turn His eyes away from those who are right with Him. He puts them on the throne with kings and they are honored forever.

8 I f they are tied up in chains and caught in the ropes of trouble,

9 t hen He makes known to them their work and their sins, that they have shown pride.

10 H e makes them listen to teaching, and tells them to turn away from sin.

11 I f they hear and serve Him, the rest of their days will be filled with what they need and their years with peace.

12 B ut if they do not hear, they will die by the sword. They will die without learning.

13 “ But those who do not know God keep anger in their heart. They do not cry for help when He puts them in chains.

14 T hey die when they are young. And their life ends among those who sell the use of their bodies in the houses of the false gods.

15 H e takes those who suffer out of their suffering. He speaks to them in times of trouble.

16 H e led you from being close to trouble to a wide place where you were free with your table full of food.

17 “ But you wanted to punish the sinful. Punishment and being fair have taken hold of you.

18 B e careful or anger will tempt you to laugh at the truth. Do not take pay in secret for wrong-doing and be turned aside.

19 W ill your riches or all your power keep you from trouble?

20 D o not desire the night, when people are taken from their place.

21 B e careful, do not turn to sin. For you have chosen this instead of suffering.

22 S ee, God is honored in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?

23 W ho has told Him the way He should go? And who has said, ‘You have done wrong’?

24 “ Remember that you should honor His work, of which men have sung.

25 A ll men have seen it. Man sees it from far away.

26 S ee, God is honored, and we do not know Him. We are not able to know the number of His years.

27 F or He takes up the drops of water that become rain,

28 w hich the clouds pour down. Much rain falls on man.

29 C an anyone understand how the clouds are spread out, or how He thunders from His tent?

30 S ee, He spreads His lightning around Him and covers the bottom of the sea.

31 F or by these He judges the people and He gives much food.

32 H e covers His hands with the lightning, and tells it to hit the mark.

33 H is thunder tells of a storm coming, and cattle also know it is coming.