1 | Elihu also proceeded, and said, |
2 | Suffer me a little, and I will show thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf. |
3 | I will bring my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. |
4 | For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. |
5 | Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. |
6 | He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. |
7 | He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yes, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. |
8 | And if they are bound in fetters, and are held in cords of affliction; |
9 | Then he showeth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. |
10 | He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. |
11 | If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. |
12 | But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. |
13 | But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. |
14 | They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean. |
15 | He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. |
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 would be full of fatness. |
17 | But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. |
18 | Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. |
19 | Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. |
20 | Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. |
21 | Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. |
22 | Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? |
23 | Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? |
24 | Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. |
25 | Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. |
26 | Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. |
27 | For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapor of it. |
28 | Which the clouds do drop and distill upon man abundantly. |
29 | Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? |
30 | Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. |
31 | For by them he judgeth the people; he giveth food in abundance. |
32 | With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the intervening cloud. |
33 | The noise of it showeth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapor. |