New King James Version | International Standard Version |
1Elihu also proceeded and said: | 1Elihu responded again and said: |
2“Bear with me a little, and I will show you That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf. | 2"Be patient with me a moment longer, and I'll show you that there's more to say on God's behalf. |
3I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. | 3I'll take what I know to its logical conclusion and ascribe righteousness to my Creator, |
4For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. | 4because what I have to say isn't deceptive, and the one who has perfect knowledge is with you." |
5“Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding. | 5"Indeed God is mighty and he doesn't show disrespect; he is mighty and strong of heart. |
6He does not preserve the life of the wicked, But gives justice to the oppressed. | 6He doesn't let the wicked live; he grants justice to the afflicted. |
7He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings, For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted. | 7He won't stop looking at righteous people; he seats them on thrones with kings forever, and they are exalted. |
8And if they are bound in fetters, Held in the cords of affliction, | 8"If they're bound in chains, caught in ropes of affliction, |
9Then He tells them their work and their transgressions— That they have acted defiantly. | 9he'll reveal their actions to them, when their transgressions have become excessive. |
10He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity. | 10He opens their ears and instructs them, commanding them to repent from evil. |
11If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures. | 11If they listen and serve him, they'll finish their lives in prosperity and their years will be pleasant. |
12But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge. | 12"But if they won't listen, they'll perish by the sword and die in their ignorance. |
13“But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them. | 13The godless at heart cherish anger; they won't cry out for help when God afflicts them. |
14They die in youth, And their life ends among the perverted persons. | 14They die in their youth; and their life will end among temple prostitutes. |
15He delivers the poor in their affliction, And opens their ears in oppression. | 15He'll deliver the afflicted through their afflictions and open their ears when they are oppressed." |
16“Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, Into a broad place where there is no restraint; And what is set on your table would be full of richness. | 16"Indeed, he drew you away from the brink of distress to a spacious place without constraints, filling your festive table with bountiful food. |
17But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you. | 17But now you are occupied with the case of the wicked; but justice and judgment will be served. |
18Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow; For a large ransom would not help you avoid it. | 18So that no one entices you with riches, don't let a large ransom turn you astray. |
19Will your riches, Or all the mighty forces, Keep you from distress? | 19"Will your wealth sustain you when you're in distress, despite your most powerful efforts? |
20Do not desire the night, When people are cut off in their place. | 20Don't long for night, when people vanish in their place. |
21Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction. | 21Be careful! Don't turn to evil, because of this you will be tried by more than affliction. |
22“Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him? | 22"Indeed, God is exalted in his power. Who is like him as a teacher? |
23Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, ‘You have done wrong’? | 23Who ordained his path for him, and who has asked him, 'You are wrong, aren't you?' |
24“Remember to magnify His work, Of which men have sung. | 24Remember to magnify his awesome activities, about which mortal man has sung. |
25Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar. | 25All of mankind sees him; human beings observe him from afar off." |
26“Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; Nor can the number of His years be discovered. | 26"God is truly awesome, beyond what we know; the number of his years is unknowable. |
27For He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist, | 27He draws up drops of water, distilling it to rain and mist. |
28Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man. | 28When the clouds pour down; they drop their rain on all of humanity. |
29Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy? | 29"Furthermore, can anyone understand cloud patterns, or the thundering in his pavilion? |
30Look, He scatters His light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea. | 30He scatters his lightning above it, and covers the bottom of the sea. |
31For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance. | 31He uses them to judge some people and give food to many. |
32He covers His hands with lightning, And commands it to strike. | 32His hands are covered with lightning that he commands to strike his designated target. |
33His thunder declares it, The cattle also, concerning the rising storm. | 33His thunder declares his presence; and tells the animals what is coming." |
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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