English Standard Version

King James Bible

1And Elihu continued, and said:

1Elihu also proceeded, and said,

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

2Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.

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

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

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

4For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

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

5Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

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

6He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.

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

7He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

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

8And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;

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

9Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

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

10He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return 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, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

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

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

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

13But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

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

14They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

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

15He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth 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.

16Even 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 should be full of fatness.

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

17But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.

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

18Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

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

19Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

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

20Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

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

21Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

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

22Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

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

23Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

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

24Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

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

25Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

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

26Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

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

27For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

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

28Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

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

29Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

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

30Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

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

31For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

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

32With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.

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

33The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

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.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.