¹ Elihu also proceeded, and said,

^{2 Ref} Suffer me a little, and I will show thee; For I have yet somewhat to say on God's behalf.

^{3 Ref} I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

^{4 Ref} For truly my words are not false: One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

^{5 Ref} Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength of understanding.

^{6 Ref} He preserveth not the life of the wicked, But giveth to the afflicted `their' right.

^{7 Ref} He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.

^{8 Ref} And if they be bound in fetters, And be taken in the cords of afflictions;

^{9 Ref} Then he showeth them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

^{10 Ref} He openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth that they return from iniquity.

^{11 Ref} If they hearken and serve `him', They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.

^{12 Ref} But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.

^{13 Ref} But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: They cry not for help when he bindeth them.

^{14 Ref} They die in youth, And their life `perisheth' among the unclean.

^{15 Ref} He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression.

^{16 Ref} Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness.

^{17 Ref} But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold `on thee'.

^{18 Ref} For let not wrath stir thee up against chastisements; Neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.

^{19 Ref} Will thy cry avail, `that thou be' not in distress, Or all the forces of `thy' strength?

^{20 Ref} Desire not the night, When peoples are cut off in their place.

^{21 Ref} Take heed, regard not iniquity: For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

^{22 Ref} Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: Who is a teacher like unto him?

^{23 Ref} Who hath enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?

^{24 Ref} Remember that thou magnify his work, Whereof men have sung.

²⁵ All men have looked thereon; Man beholdeth it afar off.

^{26 Ref} Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable.

^{27 Ref} For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from his vapor,

^{28 Ref} Which the skies pour down And drop upon man abundantly.

^{29 Ref} Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion?

^{30 Ref} Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea.

^{31 Ref} For by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.

^{32 Ref} He covereth his hands with the lightning, And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.

^{33 Ref} The noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerning `the storm' that cometh up.

¹ And Elihu went on to say,

^{2 Ref} Give me a little more time, and I will make it clear to you; for I have still something to say for God.

^{3 Ref} I will get my knowledge from far, and I will give righteousness to my Maker.

^{4 Ref} For truly my words are not false; one who has all knowledge is talking with you.

^{5 Ref} Truly, God gives up the hard-hearted, and will not give life to the sinner.

^{6 Ref} His eyes are ever on the upright, and he gives to the crushed their right;

^{7 Ref} Lifting them up to the seat of kings, and making them safe for ever.

^{8 Ref} And if they have been prisoned in chains, and taken in cords of trouble,

^{9 Ref} Then he makes clear to them what they have done, even their evil works in which they have taken pride.

^{10 Ref} Their ear is open to his teaching, and he gives them orders so that their hearts may be turned from evil.

^{11 Ref} If they give ear to his voice, and do his word, then he gives them long life, and years full of pleasure.

^{12 Ref} But if not, they come to their end, and give up their breath without knowledge.

^{13 Ref} Those who have no fear of God keep wrath stored up in their hearts; they give no cry for help when they are made prisoners.

^{14 Ref} They come to their end while they are still young, their life is short like that of those who are used for sex purposes in the worship of their gods.

^{15 Ref} He makes the wrong done to the poor the way of their salvation, opening their ears by their trouble.

^{16 Ref} ...

^{17 Ref} ...

^{18 Ref} ...

^{19 Ref} ...

^{20 Ref} ...

^{21 Ref} Take care not to be turned to sin, for you have taken evil for your part in place of sorrow.

^{22 Ref} Truly God is lifted up in strength; who is a ruler like him?

^{23 Ref} Who ever gave orders to him, or said to him, You have done wrong?

^{24 Ref} See that you give praise to his work, about which men make songs.

²⁵ All people are looking on it; man sees it from far.

^{26 Ref} Truly, God is great, greater than all our knowledge; the number of his years may not be searched out.

^{27 Ref} For he takes up the drops from the sea; he sends them through his mist as rain,

^{28 Ref} Flowing down from the sky, and dropping on the peoples.

^{29 Ref} And who has knowledge of how the clouds are stretched out, or of the thunders of his tent?

^{30 Ref} See, he is stretching out his mist, covering the tops of the mountains with it.

^{31 Ref} For by these he gives food to the peoples, and bread in full measure.

^{32 Ref} He takes the light in his hands, sending it against the mark.

^{33 Ref} The thunder makes clear his passion, and the storm gives news of his wrath.