| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1Elihu said further: | 1Elihu continued: |
| 2"Be patient with me a little longer and I will instruct you, for I still have words to speak on God's behalf. | 2"Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God's behalf. |
| 3With my knowledge I will speak comprehensively, and to my Creator I will ascribe righteousness. | 3I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker. |
| 4For in truth, my words are not false; it is one complete in knowledge who is with you. | 4Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you. |
| 5Indeed, God is mighty; and he does not despise people, he is mighty, and firm in his intent. | 5"God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose. |
| 6He does not allow the wicked to live, but he gives justice to the poor. | 6He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights. |
| 7He does not take his eyes off the righteous; but with kings on the throne he seats the righteous and exalts them forever. | 7He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever. |
| 8But if they are bound in chains, and held captive by the cords of affliction, | 8But if people are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction, |
| 9then he reveals to them what they have done, and their transgressions, that they were behaving proudly. | 9he tells them what they have done-- that they have sinned arrogantly. |
| 10And he reveals this for correction, and says that they must turn from evil. | 10He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. |
| 11If they obey and serve him, they live out their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness. | 11If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. |
| 12But if they refuse to listen, they pass over the river of death, and expire without knowledge. | 12But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge. |
| 13The godless at heart nourish anger, they do not cry out even when he binds them. | 13"The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help. |
| 14They die in their youth, and their life ends among the male cultic prostitutes. | 14They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines. |
| 15He delivers the afflicted by their afflictions, he reveals himself to them by their suffering. | 15But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. |
| 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. | 16"He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. |
| 17But now you are preoccupied with the judgment due the wicked, judgment and justice take hold of you. | 17But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you. |
| 18Be careful that no one entices you with riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside. | 18Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside. |
| 19Would your wealth sustain you, so that you would not be in distress, even all your mighty efforts? | 19Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress? |
| 20Do not long for the cover of night to drag people away from their homes. | 20Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes. |
| 21Take heed, do not turn to evil, for because of this you have been tested by affliction. | 21Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction. |
| 22Indeed, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him? | 22"God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him? |
| 23Who has prescribed his ways for him? Or said to him, 'You have done what is wicked'? | 23Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, 'You have done wrong'? |
| 24Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song. | 24Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song. |
| 25All humanity has seen it; people gaze on it from afar. | 25All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar. |
| 26"Yes, God is great--beyond our knowledge! The number of his years is unsearchable. | 26How great is God--beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out. |
| 27He draws up drops of water; they distill the rain into its mist, | 27"He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; |
| 28which the clouds pour down and shower on humankind abundantly. | 28the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. |
| 29Who can understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion? | 29Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion? |
| 30See how he scattered his lightning about him; he has covered the depths of the sea. | 30See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea. |
| 31It is by these that he judges the nations and supplies food in abundance. | 31This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance. |
| 32With his hands he covers the lightning, and directs it against its target. | 32He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. |
| 33His thunder announces the coming storm, the cattle also, concerning the storm's approach. | 33His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach. |
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