Elihu Extols God’s Greatness

¹ Then¹ Elihu continued and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “Bear with me a little longer, and ⌞I will explain⌟,¹ for ⌞I still have something to say on God’s behalf⌟.²

1. Literally “I will show you”
2. Literally “yet on behalf of God words/sentences”

³ I will bring my knowledge from far away, and I will ascribe righteousness to my maker,

⁴ for truly my words¹ are not falsehood; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.²

1. Or “what I have to say”
2. In other words, “Somebody who knows what he is talking about is addressing you”

⁵ Look, God is mighty but¹ does not despise anyone; he is mighty and ⌞good in understanding⌟.²

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “strength of heart”

⁶ He does not keep the wicked alive but¹ grants justice to the afflicted.

1. Hebrew “and”

⁷ He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but¹ he sets them forever with kings on the throne, and they are exalted.

1. Hebrew “and”

⁸ “And if they are tied up with fetters, if they are caught in the cords of misery,

⁹ then¹ he declares their work to them, and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.

1. Hebrew “and”

¹⁰ So¹ he opens their ear to the discipline, and he commands that they return from mischief.

1. Hebrew “And”

¹¹ If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness.

¹² But¹ if they do not listen, they perish by the sword, and they pass away without knowledge.

1. Hebrew “And”

¹³ And the godless of heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them.

¹⁴ ⌞They die in their youth⌟,¹ and their life ends among the male shrine prostitutes.

1. Literally “It dies in the youth of their self”

¹⁵ He delivers the afflicted by his misery, and he opens their ears by the adversity.

¹⁶ And what’s more, he allured you ⌞out of distress⌟¹ into a broad place, where in place of it was no constraint; and what was set on your table is full of fatness.

1. Literally “from the mouth of distress”

¹⁷ But¹ you are obsessed with the judgment of the wicked; judgment and justice take hold of you.

1. Hebrew “And”

¹⁸ Yes,¹ it is wrath, so that it will not incite you into mockery; and do not let the ransom’s greatness turn you aside.

1. Or “Indeed”

¹⁹ Will your cry for help sustain you without distress, or¹ all the efforts of your strength?

1. Hebrew “and”

²⁰ You must not long for the night, to cut off people ⌞in their place⌟.¹

1. Literally “in place of them”

²¹ Take care, you must not turn to mischief, for because of this you have been tried by misery.

²² “Look, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?

²³ Who has prescribed his way for him? Or¹ who says, ‘You have done wrong’?

1. Hebrew “And”

²⁴ Remember that you should extol his work, of which people have sung.

²⁵ All human beings have looked on it; everyone watches from afar.

²⁶ “Look, God is exalted, and we do not know him; the number of his years is unsearchable.

²⁷ Indeed, he draws up the drops of water; he distills the rain into its mist,

²⁸ which the clouds pour down; they shower abundantly on human beings.

²⁹ “Moreover, ⌞can anyone understand⌟¹ the spreading of clouds, the thundering of his dwelling place?

1. Literally “if he can understand”

³⁰ Look, he scatters his lightning around him, and he covers the roots of the sea.

³¹ Indeed, he judges people by them; he gives food ⌞in abundance⌟.¹

1. Literally “as far as providing in abundance”

³² He covers his hands with lightning, and he commands it the place at which to strike.

³³ His thundering tells about him; the livestock also tell ⌞concerning what rises⌟.¹

1. Literally “about going up”