[1]Elihu also proceeded, and said:
[2]Suffer me a little, and I will tell thee; for there are yet words on God's behalf.
[3]I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
[4]For truly my words are not false; one that is upright in mind is with thee.
[5]Behold, God is mighty, yet He despiseth not any; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
[6]He preserveth not the life of the wicked; but giveth to the poor their right.
[7]He withdraweth not His eyes from the righteous; but with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.
[8]And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
[9]Then He declareth unto them their work, and t transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
[10]He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
[11]If they hearken and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
[12]But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
[13]But they that are godless in heart lay up anger; they cry not for help when He bindeth them.
[14]Their soul perisheth in youth, and their life as that of the depraved.
[15]He delivereth the afflicted by His affliction, and openeth their ear by tribulation.
[16]Yea, He hath allured thee out of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which is set on thy table is full of fatness;
[17]And thou art full of the judgment of the wicked; judgment and justice take hold on them.
[18]For beware of wrath, lest thou be led away by thy sufficiency; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.
[19]Will thy riches avail, that are without stint, or all the forces of thy strength?
[20]Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.
[21]Take heed, regard not iniquity; for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
[22]Behold, God doeth loftily in His power; who is a teacher like Him?
[23]Who hath enjoined Him His way? Or who hath said: 'Thou hast wrought unrighteousness'?
[24]Remember that thou magnify His work, whereof men have sung.
[25]All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off.
[26]Behold, God is great, beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.
[27]For He draweth away the drops of water, which distil rain from His vapour;
[28]Which the skies pour down and drop upon the multitudes of men.
[29]Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the crashings of His pavilion?
[30]Behold, He spreadeth His light upon it; and He covereth the depths of the sea.
[31]For by these He judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.
[32]He covereth His hands with the lightning, and giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.
[33]The noise thereof telle concerning it, the cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up.
|