New International Version NIV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 Elihu continued:
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Elihu added:
2 “Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
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"Bear with me a little, and I will show you that there is more to say on God's behalf.
3 I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
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I may search far and wide for my arguments, but I will ascribe righteousness to God my maker.
4 Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.
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For the fact is that my words are true; you have with you a man whose views are pure.
5 “God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.
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"Look, God is powerful and despises no one, powerful in his strength of understanding.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights.
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He does not preserve the lives of the wicked, but he gives justice to the poor.
7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
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He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous; but when he sets kings on their throne forever, they may become proud;
8 But if people are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction,
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if, then, they are bound in chains, held in oppressive cords,
9 he tells them what they have done— that they have sinned arrogantly.
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he shows them the results of their doings, the crimes caused by their pride.
10 He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.
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He sounds a warning in their ears and orders them to repent of their evil.
11 If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.
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"If they pay attention and obey him, they spend their days in prosperity; their years pass pleasantly.
12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the swordand die without knowledge.
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But if they don't pay attention, they perish by the sword and die without learning their lesson.
13 “The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.
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The godless in heart cherish their anger, not crying for help when he binds them.
14 They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines.
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Their soul perishes in their youth, and their life becomes depraved.
15 But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.
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"God, with his affliction, delivers the afflicted; and he gets their attention by pressing on them.
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.
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Indeed [Iyov], he is drawing you away from distress to an untroubled open place, with rich food on your table.
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you.
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But the judgment on the wicked applies fully to you, judgment and condemnation take hold [of them].
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.
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For beware of wrath when abundance entices you; don't let a big bribe turn you aside.
19 Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?
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Will your great wealth help you? or all your efforts, no matter how strong?
20 Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes.
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Don't desire the night, when people suddenly die.
21 Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.
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Be careful; turn away from wrongdoing; for because of this, you have been tested by affliction.
22 “God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
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"Look, God is exalted in his strength; who is a teacher like him?
23 Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?
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Who ever prescribed his course for him? Who ever said, 'What you are doing is wrong'?
24 Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song.
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Remember, rather, to magnify his work, of which many have sung.
25 All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar.
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Everyone has seen it, [but] humans see it [only] from a distance.
26 How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.
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Look, God is great, beyond what we can know; the number of his years is uncountable.
27 “He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams ;
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"He makes the droplets of water, which condense into rain from his mist.
28 the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.
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The clouds pour it down upon humankind in abundance.
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?
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Can anyone fathom the spreading of the clouds, or the crashes that come from his canopy?
30 See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.
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See how he scatters his lightning over it and covers the roots of the sea.
31 This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance.
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By these things he judges the people and also gives food in plenty.
32 He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
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He gathers the lightning into his hands and commands it to strike the target.
33 His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach.
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Its crashing announces its presence and apprises the cattle of what is coming.
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.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.