1 And Elihu continued, and said:
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you,
for I have yet something to say on God's behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge fromo[Ps. 78:2] afar
and ascribep[Rev. 15:3, 4; 16:5, 7; 19:1, 2] righteousness to myqch. 35:10 Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false;
one who isrch. 37:16 perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Behold, God is mighty, andsch. 8:20 (Heb.); [Ps. 138:6] does not despise any;
he istch. 9:4; 12:13, 16 mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive,
but givesuver. 15; ch. 34:28 the afflicted their right.
7 He does not withdraw hisv[Ps. 33:18; 34:15] eyes from the righteous,
but withwPs. 132:12; [Ps. 113:8] kings on the throne
he sets them forever, and they arexPs. 75:10 exalted.
8 And if they areyver. 13; Ps. 107:10 bound in chains
and caught in the cords of affliction,
9 then he declares to them their work
and their transgressions, that they arezch. 15:25 behaving arrogantly.
10 Heach. 33:16 opens their ears to instruction
and commands that theybJer. 18:11 return from iniquity.
11 cFor ver. 11, 12, see Isa. 1:19, 20 If they listen and serve him,
theydch. 21:13 complete their days in prosperity,
and their years in pleasantness.
12 But if they do not listen, theyech. 33:18 perish by the sword
and dief[ch. 4:21]; See ch. 35:16 without knowledge.
13 Thegch. 15:34 godless in heart cherish anger;
they do not cry for help when hehver. 8 binds them.
14 Theyich. 15:32; 22:16; Ps. 55:23 die in youth,
and their life ends among the cult prostitutes.
15 He deliversjver. 6; See ch. 33:15-28 the afflicted by their affliction
andkver. 10; [Ps. 119:67, 71] opens their ear by adversity.
16 He also allured you out of distress
intol[ch. 37:10; Ps. 4:1; 18:19; 31:8; 118:5] a broad place where there was no cramping,
and what was set on yourmPs. 23:5 table was full ofnPs. 36:8 fatness.
17 But you are full of the judgment on the wicked;
judgment and justice seize you.
18 Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing,
and let not the greatness ofoch. 33:24 the ransom turn you aside.
19 Will yourpProv. 11:4 cry for help avail to keep you from distress,
or all the force of your strength?
20 Do not long forqch. 27:20; 34:20, 25 the night,
when peoples vanishrch. 40:12 in their place.
21 Take care;sPs. 66:18 do not turn to iniquity,
for this you have chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power;
who istch. 34:32; 35:11 a teacher like him?
23 Who hasuch. 34:13; [Isa. 40:13, 14; Rom. 11:34; 1 Cor. 2:16] prescribed for him his way,
or who can say,v[ch. 34:10] ‘You have done wrong ’?
24 Remember towLuke 1:46; [Ps. 92:5; Rev. 15:3] extol his work,
of which men havex[ch. 33:27; Ps. 104:33] sung.
25 All mankind has looked on it;
man beholds it from afar.
26 Behold, God is great, and wey[ch. 37:5; 1 Cor. 13:12] know him not;
the number of hiszPs. 90:2; 102:27 years is unsearchable.
27 For he draws up the drops of water;
they distill hisaGen. 2:6 (Heb.) mist inbPs. 147:8 rain,
28 whichcProv. 3:20; [Deut. 33:28] the skies pour down
and drop on mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understandd[ch. 26:9] the spreading of the clouds,
the thunderings of hisePs. 18:11; 105:39 pavilion?
30 Behold, he scatters his lightning about him
and covers the roots of the sea.
31 For by these hefch. 37:13 judges peoples;
he givesgPs. 104:27, 28; 136:25; 145:15; 147:9; Acts 14:17 food in abundance.
32 He covers hishHab. 3:4 hands with the lightning
and commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its crashing declares his presence;
the cattle also declare that he rises.