The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
1 And Elihu went on to say,
1
Elihu continued:
2 Give me a little more time, and I will make it clear to you; for I have still something to say for God.
2
“Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from far, and I will give righteousness to my Maker.
3
I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false; one who has all knowledge is talking with you.
4
Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.
5 Truly, God gives up the hard-hearted, and will not give life to the sinner.
5
“God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.
6 His eyes are ever on the upright, and he gives to the crushed their right;
6
He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights.
7 Lifting them up to the seat of kings, and making them safe for ever.
7
He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
8 And if they have been prisoned in chains, and taken in cords of trouble,
8
But if people are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction,
9 Then he makes clear to them what they have done, even their evil works in which they have taken pride.
9
he tells them what they have done— that they have sinned arrogantly.
10 Their ear is open to his teaching, and he gives them orders so that their hearts may be turned from evil.
10
He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.
11 If they give ear to his voice, and do his word, then he gives them long life, and years full of pleasure.
11
If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.
12 But if not, they come to their end, and give up their breath without knowledge.
12
But if they do not listen, they will perish by the swordand die without knowledge.
13 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.
13
“The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.
14 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.
14
They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines.
15 He makes the wrong done to the poor the way of their salvation, opening their ears by their trouble.
15
But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.
16 ...
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.
17 ...
17
But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you.
18 ...
18
Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.
19 ...
19
Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20 ...
20
Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes.
21 Take care not to be turned to sin, for you have taken evil for your part in place of sorrow.
21
Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.
22 Truly God is lifted up in strength; who is a ruler like him?
22
“God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
23 Who ever gave orders to him, or said to him, You have done wrong?
23
Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 See that you give praise to his work, about which men make songs.
24
Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song.
25 All people are looking on it; man sees it from far.
25
All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar.
26 Truly, God is great, greater than all our knowledge; the number of his years may not be searched out.
26
How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.
27 For he takes up the drops from the sea; he sends them through his mist as rain,
27
“He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams ;
28 Flowing down from the sky, and dropping on the peoples.
28
the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.
29 And who has knowledge of how the clouds are stretched out, or of the thunders of his tent?
29
Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?
30 See, he is stretching out his mist, covering the tops of the mountains with it.
30
See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.
31 For by these he gives food to the peoples, and bread in full measure.
31
This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance.
32 He takes the light in his hands, sending it against the mark.
32
He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
33 The thunder makes clear his passion, and the storm gives news of his wrath.
33
His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.