English Standard Version

Berean Study Bible

1And Elihu continued, and said:

1And Elihu continued:

2“Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God’s behalf.

2“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.

3I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

3I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.

4For truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

4For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.

5“Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding.

5Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.

6He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right.

6He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.

7He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne he sets them forever, and they are exalted.

7He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.

8And if they are bound in chains and caught in the cords of affliction,

8And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,

9then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.

9then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.

10He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from iniquity.

10He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.

11If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness.

11If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.

12But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

12But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

13“The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them.

13The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.

14They die in youth, and their life ends among the cult prostitutes.

14They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.

15He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity.

15God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.

16He 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.

16Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.

17“But you are full of the judgment on the wicked; judgment and justice seize you.

17But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.

18Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing, and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.

18Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.

19Will your cry for help avail to keep you from distress, or all the force of your strength?

19Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?

20Do not long for the night, when peoples vanish in their place.

20Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.

21Take care; do not turn to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction.

21Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.

22Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?

22Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?

23Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, ‘You have done wrong’?

23Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?

24“Remember to extol his work, of which men have sung.

24Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.

25All mankind has looked on it; man beholds it from afar.

25All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.

26Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.

26Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.

27For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain,

27For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,

28which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly.

28which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.

29Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?

29Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?

30Behold, he scatters his lightning about him and covers the roots of the sea.

30See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.

31For by these he judges peoples; he gives food in abundance.

31For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.

32He covers his hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark.

32He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.

33Its crashing declares his presence; the cattle also declare that he rises.

33The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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