New International Version NIV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Elihu continued:
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And Eli'hu continued, 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, for I have yet something 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 will fetch my knowledge from afar, and 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, and does not despise any; 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 keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right.
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 with kings upon the throne he sets them for ever, 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 and caught in the cords of affliction,
9 he tells them what they have done— that they have sinned arrogantly.
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then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.
10 He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.
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He opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return 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 hearken and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness.
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 hearken, they perish by the sword, and 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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"The godless in heart cherish anger; 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 in shame.
15 But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.
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He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear by adversity.
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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He also allured you out of distress into a broad place where there was no cramping, and what was set on your table was full of fatness.
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 full of the judgment on the wicked; judgment and justice seize you.
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.
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Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing; and let not the greatness of the ransom 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 cry avail to keep you from distress, or all the force of your strength?
20 Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes.
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Do not long for the night, when peoples 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 this you have chosen rather than affliction.
22 “God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
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Behold, God is exalted in his power; 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 has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, 'Thou hast done wrong'?
24 Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song.
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"Remember to extol his work, of which men have sung.
25 All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar.
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All men have looked on it; man beholds 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 know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.
27 “He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams ;
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For he draws up the drops of water, he distils his mist in rain
28 the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.
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which the skies pour down, and drop upon man abundantly.
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?
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Can any one understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.
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Behold, he scatters his lightning about him, 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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For by these he judges 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 the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
33 His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach.
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Its crashing declares concerning him, who is jealous with anger against iniquity.
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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.