1Elihu also continued, and said,
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2“Bear with me a little, and I will show you;
- for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.
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3I will get my knowledge from afar,
- and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
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4For truly my words are not false.
- One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
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5“Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone.
- He is mighty in strength of understanding.
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6He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked,
- but gives to the afflicted their right.
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7He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous,
- but with kings on the throne,
- he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
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8If they are bound in fetters,
- and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
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9then he shows them their work,
- and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
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10He also opens their ears to instruction,
- and commands that they return from iniquity.
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11If they listen and serve him,
- they shall spend their days in prosperity,
- and their years in pleasures.
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12But if they don’t listen, they shall perish by the sword;
- they shall die without knowledge.
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13“But those who are godless in heart lay up anger.
- They don’t cry for help when he binds them.
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14They die in youth.
- Their life perishes among the unclean.
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15He delivers the afflicted by their affliction,
- and opens their ear in oppression.
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16Yes, 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.
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17“But you are full of the judgment of the wicked.
- Judgment and justice take hold of you.
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18Don’t let riches entice you to wrath,
- neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
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19Would your wealth sustain you in distress,
- or all the might of your strength?
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20Don’t desire the night,
- when people are cut off in their place.
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21Take heed, don’t regard iniquity;
- for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
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22Behold, God is exalted in his power.
- Who is a teacher like him?
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23Who has prescribed his way for him?
- Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness?’
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24“Remember that you magnify his work,
- whereof men have sung.
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25All men have looked thereon.
- Man sees it afar off.
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26Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him.
- The number of his years is unsearchable.
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27For he draws up the drops of water,
- which distill in rain from his vapor,
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28Which the skies pour down
- and which drop on man abundantly.
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29Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds,
- and the thunderings of his pavilion?
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30Behold, he spreads his light around him.
- He covers the bottom of the sea.
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31For by these he judges the people.
- He gives food in abundance.
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32He covers his hands with the lightning,
- and commands it to strike the mark.
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33Its noise tells about him,
- and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.