Elihu Proclaims God’s Goodness
1 Elihu also proceeded and said:
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you
Thatthereareyet 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 wordsarenot false;
One who is perfect in knowledgeiswith you.
5 “Behold, Godismighty, but despisesnoone;
# Heismighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked,
# But gives justice to theoppressed.
7 He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
# Buttheyareon the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever,
And they are exalted.
8 Andiftheyarebound 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 serveHim,
# They shallspend 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 withoutknowledge.
13 “But the hypocrites in heartstore up wrath;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 They die in youth,
And their lifeendsamong 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,
# Intoa broad place wherethereisno restraint;
# Andwhat is set on your tablewouldbefull ofrichness.
17 But you are filled with the judgment due thewicked;
Judgment and justice take holdofyou.
18 Becausethereiswrath,bewarelest He take you away withoneblow;
# Fora large ransom would not help you avoidit.
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,
# Foryou 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 donewrong’?
Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty
24 “Remember tomagnify His work,
Of which men have sung.
25 Everyone has seen it;
Man looks onitfrom afar.
26 “Behold, Godisgreat, and wedo not knowHim;
# Nor can the number of His yearsbediscovered.
27 For Hedraws up drops of water,
Which distill as rain from the mist,
28 Which the clouds drop down
Andpour abundantly on man.
29 Indeed, cananyoneunderstand the spreading of clouds,
The thunder from His canopy?
30 Look, Hescatters His light upon it,
And covers the depths of the sea.
31 Forby these He judges the peoples;
# Hegives food in abundance.
32 He coversHishands with lightning,
And commands it to strike.
33 His thunder declares it,
The cattle also, concerning the risingstorm.