| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Then Elihu continued, saying: | 1Elihu responded again and said: |
| 2Be patient with me a little longer, and I will inform you, for there is still more to be said on God's behalf. | 2"Be patient with me a moment longer, and I'll show you that there's more to say on God's behalf. |
| 3I will get my knowledge from a distant place and ascribe justice to my Maker. | 3I'll take what I know to its logical conclusion and ascribe righteousness to my Creator, |
| 4For my arguments are without flaw; one who has perfect knowledge is with you. | 4because what I have to say isn't deceptive, and the one who has perfect knowledge is with you." |
| 5Yes, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He understands all things. | 5"Indeed God is mighty and he doesn't show disrespect; he is mighty and strong of heart. |
| 6He does not keep the wicked alive, but He gives justice to the afflicted. | 6He doesn't let the wicked live; he grants justice to the afflicted. |
| 7He does not remove His gaze from the righteous, but He seats them forever with enthroned kings, and they are exalted. | 7He won't stop looking at righteous people; he seats them on thrones with kings forever, and they are exalted. |
| 8If people are bound with chains and trapped by the cords of affliction, | 8"If they're bound in chains, caught in ropes of affliction, |
| 9God tells them what they have done and how arrogantly they have transgressed. | 9he'll reveal their actions to them, when their transgressions have become excessive. |
| 10He opens their ears to correction and insists they repent from iniquity. | 10He opens their ears and instructs them, commanding them to repent from evil. |
| 11If they serve Him obediently, they will end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness. | 11If they listen and serve him, they'll finish their lives in prosperity and their years will be pleasant. |
| 12But if they do not obey, they will cross the river of death and die without knowledge. | 12"But if they won't listen, they'll perish by the sword and die in their ignorance. |
| 13Those who have a godless heart harbor anger; even when God binds them, they do not cry for help. | 13The godless at heart cherish anger; they won't cry out for help when God afflicts them. |
| 14They die in their youth; their life ends among male cult prostitutes. | 14They die in their youth; and their life will end among temple prostitutes. |
| 15God rescues the afflicted by their affliction; He instructs them by their torment. | 15He'll deliver the afflicted through their afflictions and open their ears when they are oppressed." |
| 16Indeed, He lured you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and unconfined place. Your table was spread with choice food. | 16"Indeed, he drew you away from the brink of distress to a spacious place without constraints, filling your festive table with bountiful food. |
| 17Yet now you are obsessed with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you. | 17But now you are occupied with the case of the wicked; but justice and judgment will be served. |
| 18Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large ransom lead you astray. | 18So that no one entices you with riches, don't let a large ransom turn you astray. |
| 19Can your wealth or all your physical exertion keep you from distress? | 19"Will your wealth sustain you when you're in distress, despite your most powerful efforts? |
| 20Do not long for the night when nations will disappear from their places. | 20Don't long for night, when people vanish in their place. |
| 21Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity, for that is why you have been tested by affliction. | 21Be careful! Don't turn to evil, because of this you will be tried by more than affliction. |
| 22Look, God shows Himself exalted by His power. Who is a teacher like Him? | 22"Indeed, God is exalted in his power. Who is like him as a teacher? |
| 23Who has appointed His way for Him, and who has declared, "You have done wrong"? | 23Who ordained his path for him, and who has asked him, 'You are wrong, aren't you?' |
| 24Remember that you should praise His work, which people have sung about. | 24Remember to magnify his awesome activities, about which mortal man has sung. |
| 25All mankind has seen it; people have looked at it from a distance. | 25All of mankind sees him; human beings observe him from afar off." |
| 26Yes, God is exalted beyond our knowledge; the number of His years cannot be counted. | 26"God is truly awesome, beyond what we know; the number of his years is unknowable. |
| 27For He makes waterdrops evaporate; they distill the rain into its mist, | 27He draws up drops of water, distilling it to rain and mist. |
| 28which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind. | 28When the clouds pour down; they drop their rain on all of humanity. |
| 29Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out or how the thunder roars from God's pavilion? | 29"Furthermore, can anyone understand cloud patterns, or the thundering in his pavilion? |
| 30See how He spreads His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea. | 30He scatters his lightning above it, and covers the bottom of the sea. |
| 31For He judges the nations with these; He gives food in abundance. | 31He uses them to judge some people and give food to many. |
| 32He covers His hands with lightning and commands it to hit its mark. | 32His hands are covered with lightning that he commands to strike his designated target. |
| 33The thunder declares His presence; the cattle also, the approaching storm. | 33His thunder declares his presence; and tells the animals what is coming." |
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