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Elihu Declares God’s Justice and Power

¹ And Elihu continued:² “Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.³ I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.⁴ For truly my arguments are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.

⁵ Indeed God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.⁶ He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.⁷ He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.⁸ And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,⁹ then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.¹⁰ He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.¹¹ If they obey and serve Him, they will end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.¹² But if they do not obey, they will perish by the sword^(a) and die without knowledge.¹³ The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.¹⁴ They die in their youth, among the male cult prostitutes.

¹⁵ God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.¹⁶ Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.¹⁷ But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.¹⁸ Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.¹⁹ Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?²⁰ Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.²¹ Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.²² Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?²³ Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?

²⁴ Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.²⁵ All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.²⁶ Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.²⁷ For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,²⁸ which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.²⁹ Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?³⁰ See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.³¹ For by these He judges^(a) the nations and provides food in abundance.³² He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.³³ The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.