NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
1Elihu said further: | 1Then Elihu continued, saying: |
2"Be patient with me a little longer and I will instruct you, for I still have words to speak on God's behalf. | 2Be patient with me a little longer, and I will inform you, for there is still more to be said on God's behalf. |
3With my knowledge I will speak comprehensively, and to my Creator I will ascribe righteousness. | 3I will get my knowledge from a distant place and ascribe justice to my Maker. |
4For in truth, my words are not false; it is one complete in knowledge who is with you. | 4For my arguments are without flaw; one who has perfect knowledge is with you. |
5Indeed, God is mighty; and he does not despise people, he is mighty, and firm in his intent. | 5Yes, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He understands all things. |
6He does not allow the wicked to live, but he gives justice to the poor. | 6He does not keep the wicked alive, but He gives justice to the afflicted. |
7He does not take his eyes off the righteous; but with kings on the throne he seats the righteous and exalts them forever. | 7He does not remove His gaze from the righteous, but He seats them forever with enthroned kings, and they are exalted. |
8But if they are bound in chains, and held captive by the cords of affliction, | 8If people are bound with chains and trapped by the cords of affliction, |
9then he reveals to them what they have done, and their transgressions, that they were behaving proudly. | 9God tells them what they have done and how arrogantly they have transgressed. |
10And he reveals this for correction, and says that they must turn from evil. | 10He opens their ears to correction and insists they repent from iniquity. |
11If they obey and serve him, they live out their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness. | 11If they serve Him obediently, they will end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness. |
12But if they refuse to listen, they pass over the river of death, and expire without knowledge. | 12But if they do not obey, they will cross the river of death and die without knowledge. |
13The godless at heart nourish anger, they do not cry out even when he binds them. | 13Those who have a godless heart harbor anger; even when God binds them, they do not cry for help. |
14They die in their youth, and their life ends among the male cultic prostitutes. | 14They die in their youth; their life ends among male cult prostitutes. |
15He delivers the afflicted by their afflictions, he reveals himself to them by their suffering. | 15God rescues the afflicted by their affliction; He instructs them by their torment. |
16And surely, he drew you from the mouth of distress, to a wide place, unrestricted, and to the comfort of your table filled with rich food. | 16Indeed, He lured you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and unconfined place. Your table was spread with choice food. |
17But now you are preoccupied with the judgment due the wicked, judgment and justice take hold of you. | 17Yet now you are obsessed with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you. |
18Be careful that no one entices you with riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside. | 18Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large ransom lead you astray. |
19Would your wealth sustain you, so that you would not be in distress, even all your mighty efforts? | 19Can your wealth or all your physical exertion keep you from distress? |
20Do not long for the cover of night to drag people away from their homes. | 20Do not long for the night when nations will disappear from their places. |
21Take heed, do not turn to evil, for because of this you have been tested by affliction. | 21Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity, for that is why you have been tested by affliction. |
22Indeed, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him? | 22Look, God shows Himself exalted by His power. Who is a teacher like Him? |
23Who has prescribed his ways for him? Or said to him, 'You have done what is wicked'? | 23Who has appointed His way for Him, and who has declared, "You have done wrong"? |
24Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song. | 24Remember that you should praise His work, which people have sung about. |
25All humanity has seen it; people gaze on it from afar. | 25All mankind has seen it; people have looked at it from a distance. |
26"Yes, God is great--beyond our knowledge! The number of his years is unsearchable. | 26Yes, God is exalted beyond our knowledge; the number of His years cannot be counted. |
27He draws up drops of water; they distill the rain into its mist, | 27For He makes waterdrops evaporate; they distill the rain into its mist, |
28which the clouds pour down and shower on humankind abundantly. | 28which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind. |
29Who can understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion? | 29Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out or how the thunder roars from God's pavilion? |
30See how he scattered his lightning about him; he has covered the depths of the sea. | 30See how He spreads His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea. |
31It is by these that he judges the nations and supplies food in abundance. | 31For He judges the nations with these; He gives food in abundance. |
32With his hands he covers the lightning, and directs it against its target. | 32He covers His hands with lightning and commands it to hit its mark. |
33His thunder announces the coming storm, the cattle also, concerning the storm's approach. | 33The thunder declares His presence; the cattle also, the approaching storm. |
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