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 this you have chosen 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 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: The noise of it tells about him, And the cattle also concerning the storm that comes up.
