1 Elihu also proceeded and said: |
2 "Bear with me a little, and I will show you That there are yet words to speak on God's behalf. |
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I 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, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding. |
6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked, But gives justice to the oppressed. |
7 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 And if they are bound in fetters, Held in the cords of affliction, |
9 Then He tells them their work and their transgressions--That they have acted defiantly. |
10 He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity. |
11 If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures. |
12 But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge. |
13 "But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them. |
14 They die in youth, And their life ends among the perverted persons. |
15 He delivers the poor in their affliction, And opens their ears in oppression. |
16 "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 are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you. |
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow; For a large ransom would not help you avoid it. |
19 Will your riches, Or all the mighty forces, Keep you from distress? |
20 Do not desire the night, When people are cut off in their place. |
21 Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction. |
22 "Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him? |
23 Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, 'You have done wrong'? |
24 "Remember to magnify His work, Of which men have sung. |
25 Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar. |
26 "Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; Nor can the number of His years be discovered. |
27 For He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist, |
28 Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man. |
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy? |
30 Look, He scatters his light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea. |
31 For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance. |
32 He covers His hands with lightning, And commands it to strike. |
33 His thunder declares it, The cattle also, concerning the rising storm. |