1 E lihu also continued, and said,

Elihu proceeded and said,

2 “ Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.

Bear with me and wait a little longer, and I will show you, for I have something still to say on God’s behalf.

3 I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

I will bring my knowledge from afar and 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 shall not be false; He Who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

5 “ Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

Behold! God is mighty, and yet despises no one nor regards anything as trivial; He is mighty in power of understanding and heart.

6 H e doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.

He does not prolong the life of the wicked, but gives the needy and afflicted their right.

7 H e doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.

He withdraws not His eyes from the righteous (the upright in right standing with God); but He sets them forever with kings upon the throne, and they are exalted.

8 I f they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,

And if they are bound in fetters and held by cords of affliction,

9 t hen he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

Then He shows to them their deeds and their transgressions, that they have acted arrogantly.

10 H e also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.

He also opens their ears to instruction and discipline, and commands that they return from iniquity.

11 I f they listen and serve him, they shall spend 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 pleasantness and joy.

12 B ut if they don’t listen, they shall perish by the sword; they shall die without knowledge.

But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die in ignorance of true knowledge.

13 “ But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.

But the godless and profane in heart heap up anger; they do not cry to Him when He binds them.

14 T hey die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.

They die in youth, and their life perishes among the unclean (those who are sodomites).

15 H e delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.

He delivers the afflicted in their affliction and opens their ears in adversity.

16 Y es, he would have allured you out of distress, into a wide place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.

Indeed, God would have allured you out of the mouth of distress into a broad place where there is no situation of perplexity or privation; and that which would be set on your table would be full of fatness.

17 “ But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.

But if you are filled with the judgment of the wicked, judgment and justice will keep hold on you.

18 D on’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.

For let not wrath entice you into scorning chastisements; and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.

19 W ould your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?

Will your cry be sufficient to keep you from distress, or will all the force of your strength do it?

20 D on’t desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.

Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off from their places;

21 T ake heed, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.

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

22 B ehold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

Behold, God exalts and does loftily in His power; who is a ruler or a teacher like Him?

23 W ho has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness?’

Who has appointed God His way? Or who can say, You have done unrighteousness?

24 “ Remember that you magnify his work, whereof men have sung.

Remember that you magnify God’s work, of which men have sung.

25 A ll men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off.

All men have looked upon God’s work; man may behold it afar off.

26 B ehold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.

Behold, God is great, and we know Him not! The number of His years is unsearchable.

27 F or he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,

For He draws up the drops of water, which distil as rain from His vapor,

28 W hich the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.

Which the skies pour down and drop abundantly upon mankind.

29 Y es, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?

Not only that, but can anyone understand the spreadings of the clouds or the thunderings of His pavilion?

30 B ehold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.

Behold, He spreads His lightning against the dark clouds and covers the roots of the sea.

31 F or by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.

For by God executes judgment upon the peoples; He gives food in abundance.

32 H e covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.

He covers His hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark.

33 I ts noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.

His thunderings speak concerning Him; the cattle are told of His coming storm.