Elihu Exalts God's Goodness

1Elihu continued and said:

2‘Bear with me a little, and I will show you,

for I have yet something to say on God's behalf.

3I will bring my knowledge from far away,

and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

4For truly my words are not false;

one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

5‘Surely God is mighty and does not despise any;

he is mighty in strength of understanding.

6He does not keep the wicked alive,

but gives the afflicted their right.

7He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous,

but with kings on the throne

he sets them for ever, and they are exalted.

8And if they are bound in fetters

and caught in the cords of affliction,

9then he declares to them their work

and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.

10He opens their ears to instruction,

and commands that they return from iniquity.

11If they listen, and serve him,

they complete their days in prosperity,

and their years in pleasantness.

12But if they do not listen, they shall perish by the sword,

and die without knowledge.

13‘The godless in heart cherish anger;

they do not cry for help when he binds them.

14They die in their youth,

and their life ends in shame.36.14 Heb ends among the temple prostitutes

15He delivers the afflicted by their affliction,

and opens their ear by adversity.

16He also allured you out of distress

into a broad place where there was no constraint,

and what was set on your table was full of fatness.

17‘But you are obsessed with the case of the wicked;

judgement and justice seize you.

18Beware that wrath does not entice you into scoffing,

and do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.

19Will your cry avail to keep you from distress,

or will all the force of your strength?

20Do not long for the night,

when peoples are cut off in their place.

21Beware! Do not turn to iniquity;

because of that you have been tried by affliction.

22See, God is exalted in his power;

who is a teacher like him?

23Who has prescribed for him his way,

or who can say, “You have done wrong”?

Elihu Proclaims God's Majesty

24‘Remember to extol his work,

of which mortals have sung.

25All people have looked on it;

everyone watches it from far away.

26Surely God is great, and we do not know him;

the number of his years is unsearchable.

27For he draws up the drops of water;

he distils36.27 Cn: Heb they distil his mist in rain,

28which the skies pour down

and drop upon mortals abundantly.

29Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds,

the thunderings of his pavilion?

30See, he scatters his lightning around him

and covers the roots of the sea.

31For by these he governs peoples;

he gives food in abundance.

32He covers his hands with the lightning,

and commands it to strike the mark.

33Its crashing36.33 Meaning of Heb uncertain tells about him;

he is jealous36.33 Meaning of Heb uncertain with anger against iniquity.