1: Elihu also continued, and said,
2: "Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God's behalf.
3: I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4: For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5: "Behold, God is mighty, and doesn't despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6: He doesn't preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.
7: He doesn't withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
8: If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
9: then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
10: He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
11: If they listen and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12: But if they don't listen, they shall perish by the sword; they shall die without knowledge.
13: "But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don't cry for help when he binds them.
14: They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.
15: He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
16: Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a broad place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
17: "But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18: Don't let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
19: Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
20: Don't desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21: Take heed, don't regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22: Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
23: Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, 'You have committed unrighteousness?'
24: "Remember that you magnify his work, whereof men have sung.
25: All men have looked thereon. Man sees it afar off.
26: Behold, God is great, and we don't know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
27: For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,
28: Which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.
29: Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?
30: Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
31: For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
32: He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
33: Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.