Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Continuing, Elihu said,
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Elihu continued 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, for I have yet something to say on God's behalf.
3 I will draw from my broad knowledge, attribute justice to my maker.
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I will bring my knowledge from far away, and 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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"Surely God is mighty and does not despise any; 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 keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right.
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 with kings on the throne he sets 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 and caught in the cords of affliction,
9 he informs them about their offenses and their grave sins.
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then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.
10 He opens their ears with discipline and commands them to turn from wrong.
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He opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
11 If they listen and serve, they spend their days in plenty, their years contentedly.
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If they listen, and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness.
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 listen, they shall perish by the sword, and die without knowledge.
13 Those with impious hearts become furious; they don't cry out even though he binds them.
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"The godless in heart cherish anger; 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 their youth, and their life ends in shame.
15 He saves the weak in their affliction, opens their ears through oppression.
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He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear by adversity.
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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He 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 You are overly concerned about the case of the wicked; justice will be upheld in it.
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"But you are obsessed with the case of the wicked; judgment and justice seize you.
18 Don't let them lure you with wealth; don't let a huge bribe mislead you.
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Beware that wrath does not entice you into scoffing, and do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.
19 Will he arrange your rescue from distress or from all your exertions of strength?
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Will your cry avail to keep you from distress, or will all the force of your strength?
20 Don't wish for the night when people vanish from their place.
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Do not long for the night, when peoples 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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Beware! Do not turn to iniquity; because of that you have been tried by affliction.
22 Look, God is inaccessible due to his power; who is a teacher like him?
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See, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher 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 prescribed for him his way, or who can say, "You have done wrong'?
24 Remember to praise his work that all of us have seen.
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"Remember to extol his work, of which mortals have sung.
25 Every person has seen him; people can observe at great distance.
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All people have looked on it; everyone watches it from far away.
26 Look, God is exalted and unknowable; the number of his years is beyond counting.
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Surely God is great, and we do not know him; the number of his years is unsearchable.
27 He draws up drops of water that distill rain from his flood;
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For he draws up the drops of water; he distills his mist in rain,
28 the clouds pour moisture and drip continually on humans.
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which the skies pour down and drop upon mortals abundantly.
29 Even if one perceives a spreading cloud and the thunder of his pavilion,
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Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 look how he spreads lightning across it and covers the seabed;
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See, he scatters his lightning around him and covers the roots of the sea.
31 for by water he judges peoples and gives food in abundance.
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For by these he governs 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 the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
33 His thunder announces it; even cattle proclaim its rising.
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Its crashing tells about him; he is jealous with anger against iniquity.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.