Common English Bible CEB
New King James Version NKJV
1 Continuing, Elihu said,
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Elihu also proceeded and said:
2 Wait a little while so I can demonstrate for you that there is still something more to say about God.
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"Bear with me a little, and I will show you That there are yet words to speak on God's behalf.
3 I will draw from my broad knowledge, attribute justice to my maker.
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I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 My words are certainly truthful; one with total knowledge is present with you.
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For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Look, God is mighty and doesn't reject anyone; he is mighty in strength and mind.
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"Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He doesn't let the wicked live, but grants justice to the poor.
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He does not preserve the life of the wicked, But gives justice to the oppressed.
7 He doesn't avert his eyes from the righteous; he seats kings on thrones forever, and they are lifted up.
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He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings, For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted.
8 If they are tied with ropes, caught in cords of affliction,
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And if they are bound in fetters, Held in the cords of affliction,
9 he informs them about their offenses and their grave sins.
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Then He tells them their work and their transgressions-- That they have acted defiantly.
10 He opens their ears with discipline and commands them to turn from wrong.
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He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they listen and serve, they spend their days in plenty, their years contentedly.
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If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.
12 But if they don't listen, they perish by the sword, breathe their last without understanding.
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But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.
13 Those with impious hearts become furious; they don't cry out even though he binds them.
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"But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 They die young; they are among the holy ones.
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They die in youth, And their life ends among the perverted persons.
15 He saves the weak in their affliction, opens their ears through oppression.
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He delivers the poor in their affliction, And opens their ears in oppression.
16 Surely he draws you up from the brink of trouble to a wide place without distress; your table is set with rich food.
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"Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, Into a broad place where there is no restraint; And what is set on your table would be full of richness.
17 You are overly concerned about the case of the wicked; justice will be upheld in it.
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But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Don't let them lure you with wealth; don't let a huge bribe mislead you.
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Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow; For a large ransom would not help you avoid it.
19 Will he arrange your rescue from distress or from all your exertions of strength?
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Will your riches, Or all the mighty forces, Keep you from distress?
20 Don't wish for the night when people vanish from their place.
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Do not desire the night, When people are cut off in their place.
21 Take care; don't turn to evil because you've chosen it over affliction.
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Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 Look, God is inaccessible due to his power; who is a teacher like him?
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"Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him?
23 Who has repaid him for his action, and who would ever say, "You've done wrong"?
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Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, 'You have done wrong'?
24 Remember to praise his work that all of us have seen.
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"Remember to magnify His work, Of which men have sung.
25 Every person has seen him; people can observe at great distance.
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Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar.
26 Look, God is exalted and unknowable; the number of his years is beyond counting.
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"Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
27 He draws up drops of water that distill rain from his flood;
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For He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist,
28 the clouds pour moisture and drip continually on humans.
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Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man.
29 Even if one perceives a spreading cloud and the thunder of his pavilion,
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Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy?
30 look how he spreads lightning across it and covers the seabed;
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Look, He scatters his light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea.
31 for by water he judges peoples and gives food in abundance.
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For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance.
32 He conceals lightning in his palms and orders it to its target.
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He covers His hands with lightning, And commands it to strike.
33 His thunder announces it; even cattle proclaim its rising.
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His thunder declares it, The cattle also, concerning the rising storm.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.