| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1Elihu also proceeded, and said, | 1Elihu continued: |
| 2Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf. | 2"Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God's behalf. |
| 3I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. | 3I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker. |
| 4For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. | 4Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you. |
| 5Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. | 5"God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose. |
| 6He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. | 6He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights. |
| 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. | 7He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever. |
| 8And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; | 8But if people are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction, |
| 9Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. | 9he tells them what they have done-- that they have sinned arrogantly. |
| 10He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. | 10He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. |
| 11If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. | 11If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. |
| 12But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. | 12But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge. |
| 13But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. | 13"The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help. |
| 14They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean. | 14They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines. |
| 15He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. | 15But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. |
| 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. | 16"He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. |
| 17But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. | 17But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you. |
| 18Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. | 18Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside. |
| 19Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. | 19Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress? |
| 20Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. | 20Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes. |
| 21Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. | 21Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction. |
| 22Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? | 22"God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him? |
| 23Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? | 23Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, 'You have done wrong'? |
| 24Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. | 24Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song. |
| 25Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. | 25All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar. |
| 26Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. | 26How great is God--beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out. |
| 27For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: | 27"He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; |
| 28Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. | 28the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. |
| 29Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? | 29Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion? |
| 30Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. | 30See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea. |
| 31For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. | 31This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance. |
| 32With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. | 32He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. |
| 33The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour. | 33His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach. |
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