New Living Translation NLT
Common English Bible CEB
1 Elihu continued speaking:
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Continuing, Elihu said,
2 “Let me go on, and I will show you the truth. For I have not finished defending God!
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Wait a little while so I can demonstrate for you that there is still something more to say about God.
3 I will present profound arguments for the righteousness of my Creator.
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I will draw from my broad knowledge, attribute justice to my maker.
4 I am telling you nothing but the truth, for I am a man of great knowledge.
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My words are certainly truthful; one with total knowledge is present with you.
5 “God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone! He is mighty in both power and understanding.
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Look, God is mighty and doesn't reject anyone; he is mighty in strength and mind.
6 He does not let the wicked live but gives justice to the afflicted.
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He doesn't let the wicked live, but grants justice to the poor.
7 He never takes his eyes off the innocent, but he sets them on thrones with kings and exalts them forever.
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He doesn't avert his eyes from the righteous; he seats kings on thrones forever, and they are lifted up.
8 If they are bound in chains and caught up in a web of trouble,
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If they are tied with ropes, caught in cords of affliction,
9 he shows them the reason. He shows them their sins of pride.
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he informs them about their offenses and their grave sins.
10 He gets their attention and commands that they turn from evil.
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He opens their ears with discipline and commands them to turn from wrong.
11 “If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant.
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If they listen and serve, they spend their days in plenty, their years contentedly.
12 But if they refuse to listen to him, they will cross over the river of death, dying from lack of understanding.
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But if they don't listen, they perish by the sword, breathe their last without understanding.
13 For the godless are full of resentment. Even when he punishes them, they refuse to cry out to him for help.
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Those with impious hearts become furious; they don't cry out even though he binds them.
14 They die when they are young, after wasting their lives in immoral living.
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They die young; they are among the holy ones.
15 But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity.
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He saves the weak in their affliction, opens their ears through oppression.
16 “God is leading you away from danger, Job, to a place free from distress. He is setting your table with the best food.
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Surely he draws you up from the brink of trouble to a wide place without distress; your table is set with rich food.
17 But you are obsessed with whether the godless will be judged. Don’t worry, judgment and justice will be upheld.
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You are overly concerned about the case of the wicked; justice will be upheld in it.
18 But watch out, or you may be seduced by wealth. Don’t let yourself be bribed into sin.
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Don't let them lure you with wealth; don't let a huge bribe mislead you.
19 Could all your wealth or all your mighty efforts keep you from distress?
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Will he arrange your rescue from distress or from all your exertions of strength?
20 Do not long for the cover of night, for that is when people will be destroyed.
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Don't wish for the night when people vanish from their place.
21 Be on guard! Turn back from evil, for God sent this suffering to keep you from a life of evil.
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Take care; don't turn to evil because you've chosen it over affliction.
22 “Look, God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him?
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Look, God is inaccessible due to his power; who is a teacher like him?
23 No one can tell him what to do, or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’
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Who has repaid him for his action, and who would ever say, "You've done wrong"?
24 Instead, glorify his mighty works, singing songs of praise.
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Remember to praise his work that all of us have seen.
25 Everyone has seen these things, though only from a distance.
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Every person has seen him; people can observe at great distance.
26 “Look, God is greater than we can understand. His years cannot be counted.
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Look, God is exalted and unknowable; the number of his years is beyond counting.
27 He draws up the water vapor and then distills it into rain.
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He draws up drops of water that distill rain from his flood;
28 The rain pours down from the clouds, and everyone benefits.
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the clouds pour moisture and drip continually on humans.
29 Who can understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven?
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Even if one perceives a spreading cloud and the thunder of his pavilion,
30 See how he spreads the lightning around him and how it lights up the depths of the sea.
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look how he spreads lightning across it and covers the seabed;
31 By these mighty acts he nourishes the people, giving them food in abundance.
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for by water he judges peoples and gives food in abundance.
32 He fills his hands with lightning bolts and hurls each at its target.
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He conceals lightning in his palms and orders it to its target.
33 The thunder announces his presence; the storm announces his indignant anger.
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His thunder announces it; even cattle proclaim its rising.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible