1 T hen Elihu spoke more and said,

Elihu also proceeded and said:

2 “ Wait for me a little longer, and I will show you that there is yet more to be said 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 bring my learning from far away, and will tell how right and good my Maker is.

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

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

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

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

“Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty 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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 your riches or all your power keep you from trouble?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man.

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

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

30 S ee, He spreads His lightning around Him and covers 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 judges the people and He gives much food.

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

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

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

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

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