1 A nd Elihu addeth and saith: --

Then Elihu continued and said,

2 H onour me a little, and I shew thee, That yet for God words.

“Wait for me a little, and I will show you That there is yet more to be said in God’s behalf.

3 I lift up my knowledge from afar, And to my Maker I ascribe righteousness.

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

4 F or, truly, my words not false, The perfect in knowledge with thee.

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

5 L o, God mighty, and despiseth not, Mighty power heart.

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

6 H e reviveth not the wicked, And the judgment of the poor appointeth;

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

7 H e withdraweth not from the righteous His eyes, And kings on the throne, And causeth them to sit for ever, and they are high,

“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 prisoners in fetters They are captured with cords of affliction,

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

9 T hen He declareth to them their work, And their transgressions, Because they have become mighty,

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

10 A nd He uncovereth their ear for instruction, And saith that they turn back from iniquity.

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

11 I f they do hear and serve, They complete their days in good, And their years in pleasantness.

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

12 A nd if they do not hearken, By the dart they pass away, And expire without knowledge.

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

13 A nd the profane in heart set the face, They cry not when He hath bound them.

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

14 T heir soul dieth in youth, And their life among the defiled.

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

15 H e draweth out the afflicted in his affliction, And uncovereth in oppression their ear.

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

16 A nd also He moved thee from a strait place, a broad place -- no straitness under it, And the sitting beyond of thy table Hath been full of fatness.

“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 A nd the judgment of the wicked thou hast fulfilled, Judgment and justice are upheld -- because of fury,

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

18 L est He move thee with a stroke, And the abundance of an atonement turn thee not aside.

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

19 D oth He value thy riches? He hath gold, and all the forces of power.

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

20 D esire not the night, For the going up of peoples in their stead.

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

21 T ake heed -- do not turn unto iniquity, For on this thou hast fixed Rather than affliction.

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

22 L o, God doth sit on high by His power, Who like Him -- a teacher?

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

23 W ho hath appointed unto Him his way? And who said, `Thou hast done iniquity?'

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

24 R emember that thou magnify His work That men have beheld.

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

25 A ll men have looked on it, Man looketh attentively from afar.

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

26 L o, God high, And we know not the number of His years, Yea, there no searching.

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

27 W hen He doth diminish droppings of the waters, They refine rain according to its vapour,

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

28 W hich clouds do drop, They distil on man abundantly.

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

29 Y ea, doth understand The spreadings out of a cloud? The noises of His tabernacle?

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

30 L o, He hath spread over it His light, And the roots of the sea He hath covered,

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

31 F or by them He doth judge peoples, He giveth food in abundance.

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

32 B y two palms He hath covered the light, And layeth a charge over it in meeting,

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

33 H e sheweth by it his friend substance, Anger against perversity.

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