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1 ELIHU also proceeded, and said, | |
2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf. | |
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. | |
4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. | |
5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. | |
6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. | |
7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish 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 sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. | |
10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. | |
11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. | |
12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. | |
13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. | |
14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean. | |
15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. | |
16 Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness. | |
17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. | |
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. | |
19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. | |
20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. | |
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. | |
22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? | |
23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? | |
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. | |
25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. | |
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. | |
27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: | |
28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. | |
29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? | |
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. | |
31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. | |
32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. | |
33 The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour. | |