| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1And Elihu continued, and said: | 1Elihu said further: |
| 2“Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God’s behalf. | 2"Be patient with me a little longer and I will instruct you, for I still have words to speak on God's behalf. |
| 3I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker. | 3With my knowledge I will speak comprehensively, and to my Creator I will ascribe righteousness. |
| 4For truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you. | 4For in truth, my words are not false; it is one complete in knowledge who is with you. |
| 5“Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding. | 5Indeed, God is mighty; and he does not despise people, he is mighty, and firm in his intent. |
| 6He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right. | 6He does not allow the wicked to live, but he gives justice 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 does not take his eyes off the righteous; but with kings on the throne he seats the righteous and exalts them forever. |
| 8And if they are bound in chains and caught in the cords of affliction, | 8But if they are bound in chains, and held captive by the cords of affliction, |
| 9then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly. | 9then he reveals to them what they have done, and their transgressions, that they were behaving proudly. |
| 10He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from iniquity. | 10And he reveals this for correction, and says that they must turn from evil. |
| 11If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness. | 11If they obey and serve him, they live out their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness. |
| 12But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword and die without knowledge. | 12But if they refuse to listen, they pass over the river of death, and expire without knowledge. |
| 13“The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them. | 13The godless at heart nourish anger, they do not cry out even when he binds them. |
| 14They die in youth, and their life ends among the cult prostitutes. | 14They die in their youth, and their life ends among the male cultic prostitutes. |
| 15He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity. | 15He delivers the afflicted by their afflictions, he reveals himself to them by their suffering. |
| 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. | 16And surely, he drew you from the mouth of distress, to a wide place, unrestricted, and to the comfort of your table filled with rich food. |
| 17“But you are full of the judgment on the wicked; judgment and justice seize you. | 17But now you are preoccupied with the judgment due the wicked, judgment and justice take hold of you. |
| 18Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing, and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside. | 18Be careful that no one entices you with riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside. |
| 19Will your cry for help avail to keep you from distress, or all the force of your strength? | 19Would your wealth sustain you, so that you would not be in distress, even all your mighty efforts? |
| 20Do not long for the night, when peoples vanish in their place. | 20Do not long for the cover of night to drag people away from their homes. |
| 21Take care; do not turn to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction. | 21Take heed, do not turn to evil, for because of this you have been tested by affliction. |
| 22Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him? | 22Indeed, 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 prescribed his ways for him? Or said to him, 'You have done what is wicked'? |
| 24“Remember to extol his work, of which men have sung. | 24Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song. |
| 25All mankind has looked on it; man beholds it from afar. | 25All humanity has seen it; people gaze on it from afar. |
| 26Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable. | 26"Yes, 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, | 27He draws up drops of water; they distill the rain into its mist, |
| 28which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly. | 28which the clouds pour down and shower on humankind abundantly. |
| 29Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion? | 29Who can understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion? |
| 30Behold, he scatters his lightning about him and covers the roots of the sea. | 30See how he scattered his lightning about him; he has covered the depths of the sea. |
| 31For by these he judges peoples; he gives food in abundance. | 31It is by these that he judges the nations and supplies food in abundance. |
| 32He covers his hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark. | 32With his hands he covers the lightning, and directs it against its target. |
| 33Its crashing declares his presence; the cattle also declare that he rises. | 33His thunder announces the coming storm, the cattle also, concerning the storm's approach. |
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