Elihu Shows God's Justice and Power
1Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.
3I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
6He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
7He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
8And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
9Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
10He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
14They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
15He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
16Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
17But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
18Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
19Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
20Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
22Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
23Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
24Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
25Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.
26Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
28Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
29Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
30Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
31For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
32With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
33The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Elihu Describes God’s Power
1 Elihu also continued, and said,
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false. One 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.
6 He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.
7 He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
8 If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
9 then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
10 He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
11 If they listen and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they don’t listen, they shall perish by the sword; they shall die without knowledge.
13 “But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.
14 They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.
15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
16 Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a broad place, where there is no restriction. That which is 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.
18 Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
19 Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
20 Don’t desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
23 Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness?’
24 “Remember that you magnify his work, whereof men have sung.
25 All men have looked thereon. Man sees it afar off.
26 Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
27 For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,
28 Which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.
29 Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
31 For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
32 He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.
Elihu Describes God’s Power
1 And Elihu continued:
2 “Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you
that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.
3 I get my knowledge from afar,
and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are free of falsehood;
one perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one;
He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive,
but He grants justice to the afflicted.
7 He does not take His eyes off the righteous,
but He enthrones them with kings
and exalts them forever.
8 And if men are bound with chains,
caught in cords of affliction,
9 then He tells them their deeds
and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
10 He opens their ears to correction
and commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him,
then they end their days in prosperity
and their years in happiness.
12 But if they do not obey,
then they perish by the sword a
and die without knowledge.
13 The godless in heart harbor resentment;
even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.
14 They die in their youth,
among the male shrine prostitutes.
15 God rescues the afflicted by their affliction b
and opens their ears in oppression.
16 Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress
to a spacious and broad place,
to a table full of richness.
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;
judgment and justice have seized you.
18 Be careful that no one lures you with riches;
do not let a large bribe lead you astray.
19 Can your wealth c or all your mighty effort
keep you from distress?
20 Do not long for the night,
when people vanish from their homes.
21 Be careful not to turn to iniquity,
for this you have preferred to affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in His power.
Who is a teacher like Him?
23 Who has appointed His way for Him,
or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 Remember to magnify His work,
which men have praised in song.
25 All mankind has seen it;
men behold it from afar.
26 Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge;
the number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For He draws up drops of water
which distill the rain from the mist,
28 which the clouds pour out
and shower abundantly on mankind.
29 Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out,
how the thunder roars from His pavilion?
30 See how He scatters His lightning around Him
and covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by these He judges d the nations
and provides food in abundance.
32 He fills His hands with lightning
and commands it to strike its mark.
33 The thunder declares His presence;
even the cattle regard the rising storm.
Footnotes:
12 a Or they will cross the river of death
15 b Or in their affliction
19 c Or your cry for help
31 d Or governs or nourishes
Elihu Shows God's Justice and Power
1And Elihu addeth and saith: --
2Honour me a little, and I shew thee, That yet for God are words.
3I lift up my knowledge from afar, And to my Maker I ascribe righteousness.
4For, truly, my words are not false, The perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5Lo, God is mighty, and despiseth not, Mighty in power and heart.
6He reviveth not the wicked, And the judgment of the poor appointeth;
7He withdraweth not from the righteous His eyes, And from kings on the throne, And causeth them to sit for ever, and they are high,
8And if prisoners in fetters They are captured with cords of affliction,
9Then He declareth to them their work, And their transgressions, Because they have become mighty,
10And He uncovereth their ear for instruction, And saith that they turn back from iniquity.
11If they do hear and serve, They complete their days in good, And their years in pleasantness.
12And if they do not hearken, By the dart they pass away, And expire without knowledge.
13And the profane in heart set the face, They cry not when He hath bound them.
14Their soul dieth in youth, And their life among the defiled.
15He draweth out the afflicted in his affliction, And uncovereth in oppression their ear.
16And also He moved thee from a strait place, To a broad place -- no straitness under it, And the sitting beyond of thy table Hath been full of fatness.
17And the judgment of the wicked thou hast fulfilled, Judgment and justice are upheld -- because of fury,
18Lest He move thee with a stroke, And the abundance of an atonement turn thee not aside.
19Doth He value thy riches? He hath gold, and all the forces of power.
20Desire not the night, For the going up of peoples in their stead.
21Take heed -- do not turn unto iniquity, For on this thou hast fixed Rather than on affliction.
22Lo, God doth sit on high by His power, Who is like Him -- a teacher?
23Who hath appointed unto Him his way? And who said, 'Thou hast done iniquity?'
24Remember that thou magnify His work That men have beheld.
25All men have looked on it, Man looketh attentively from afar.
26Lo, God is high, And we know not the number of His years, Yea, there is no searching.
27When He doth diminish droppings of the waters, They refine rain according to its vapour,
28Which clouds do drop, They distil on man abundantly.
29Yea, doth any understand The spreadings out of a cloud? The noises of His tabernacle?
30Lo, He hath spread over it His light, And the roots of the sea He hath covered,
31For by them He doth judge peoples, He giveth food in abundance.
32By two palms He hath covered the light, And layeth a charge over it in meeting,
33He sheweth by it to his friend substance, Anger against perversity.
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