The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
King James Version KJV
1 Elihu added:
1
Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2 "Bear with me a little, and I will show you that there is more to say on God's behalf.
2
Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.
3 I may search far and wide for my arguments, but I will ascribe righteousness to God my maker.
3
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For the fact is that my words are true; you have with you a man whose views are pure.
4
For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5 "Look, God is powerful and despises no one, powerful in his strength of understanding.
5
Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
6 He does not preserve the lives of the wicked, but he gives justice to the poor.
6
He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
7 He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous; but when he sets kings on their throne forever, they may become proud;
7
He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
8 if, then, they are bound in chains, held in oppressive cords,
8
And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
9 he shows them the results of their doings, the crimes caused by their pride.
9
Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
10 He sounds a warning in their ears and orders them to repent of their evil.
10
He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11 "If they pay attention and obey him, they spend their days in prosperity; their years pass pleasantly.
11
If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they don't pay attention, they perish by the sword and die without learning their lesson.
12
But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13 The godless in heart cherish their anger, not crying for help when he binds them.
13
But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
14 Their soul perishes in their youth, and their life becomes depraved.
14
They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
15 "God, with his affliction, delivers the afflicted; and he gets their attention by pressing on them.
15
He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
16 Indeed [Iyov], he is drawing you away from distress to an untroubled open place, with rich food on your table.
16
Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
17 But the judgment on the wicked applies fully to you, judgment and condemnation take hold [of them].
17
But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
18 For beware of wrath when abundance entices you; don't let a big bribe turn you aside.
18
Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
19 Will your great wealth help you? or all your efforts, no matter how strong?
19
Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
20 Don't desire the night, when people suddenly die.
20
Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Be careful; turn away from wrongdoing; for because of this, you have been tested by affliction.
21
Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
22 "Look, God is exalted in his strength; who is a teacher like him?
22
Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
23 Who ever prescribed his course for him? Who ever said, 'What you are doing is wrong'?
23
Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
24 Remember, rather, to magnify his work, of which many have sung.
24
Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
25 Everyone has seen it, [but] humans see it [only] from a distance.
25
Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.
26 Look, God is great, beyond what we can know; the number of his years is uncountable.
26
Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27 "He makes the droplets of water, which condense into rain from his mist.
27
For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
28 The clouds pour it down upon humankind in abundance.
28
Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
29 Can anyone fathom the spreading of the clouds, or the crashes that come from his canopy?
29
Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
30 See how he scatters his lightning over it and covers the roots of the sea.
30
Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
31 By these things he judges the people and also gives food in plenty.
31
For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
32 He gathers the lightning into his hands and commands it to strike the target.
32
With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
33 Its crashing announces its presence and apprises the cattle of what is coming.
33
The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The King James Version is in the public domain.