New International Version NIV
New King James Version NKJV
1 Elihu continued:
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Elihu also proceeded and said:
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 are yet words to speak on God's behalf.
3 I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
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I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.
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For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.
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"Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in 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 life of the wicked, But gives justice to the oppressed.
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 they are on the throne with kings, For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted.
8 But if people are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction,
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And if they are bound in fetters, Held in the cords of affliction,
9 he tells them what they have done— that they have sinned arrogantly.
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Then He tells them their work and their transgressions-- That they have acted defiantly.
10 He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.
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He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity.
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 obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.
12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the swordand die without knowledge.
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But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.
13 “The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.
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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 in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines.
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They die in youth, And their life ends among the perverted persons.
15 But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.
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He delivers the poor in their affliction, And opens their ears in oppression.
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 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 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you.
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But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.
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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 Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?
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Will your riches, Or all the mighty forces, Keep you from distress?
20 Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes.
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Do not desire the night, When people are cut off in their place.
21 Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.
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Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 “God is exalted in 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 prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?
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Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, 'You have done wrong'?
24 Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song.
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"Remember to magnify His work, Of which men have sung.
25 All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar.
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Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar.
26 How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.
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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 the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams ;
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For He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist,
28 the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.
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Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man.
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?
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Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy?
30 See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.
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Look, He scatters his light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea.
31 This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance.
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For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance.
32 He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
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He covers His hands with lightning, And commands it to strike.
33 His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach.
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His thunder declares it, The cattle also, concerning the rising storm.
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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.