1 Elihu also proceeded and said:
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"Bear with me a little, and I will show you
That there are yet words to speak on God's behalf.
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I will fetch my knowledge from afar;
I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
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For truly my words are not false;
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
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"Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one;
a He is mighty in strength 1 of understanding.
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He does not preserve the life of the wicked,
But gives justice to the b oppressed.
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c He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But d they are on the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever,
And they are exalted.
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And e if they are bound in 2 fetters,
Held in the cords of affliction,
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Then He tells them their work and their transgressions -
That they have acted 3 defiantly.
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f He also opens their ear to 4 instruction,
And commands that they turn from iniquity.
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If they obey and serve Him,
They shall g spend their days in prosperity,
And their years in pleasures.
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But if they do not obey,
They shall perish by the sword,
And they shall die 5 without h knowledge.
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"But the hypocrites in heart i store up wrath;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
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j They 6 die in youth,
And their life ends among the 7 perverted persons. 8
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He delivers the poor in their affliction,
And opens their ears in oppression.
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"Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress,
k Into a broad place where there is no restraint;
And l what is set on your table would be full of m richness.
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But you are filled with the judgment due the n wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
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Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow;
For o a large ransom would not help you avoid it.
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p Will your riches,
Or all the mighty forces,
Keep you from distress?
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Do not desire the night,
When people are cut off in their place.
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Take heed, q do not turn to iniquity,
For r you have chosen this rather than affliction.
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"Behold, God is exalted by His power;
Who teaches like Him?
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s Who has assigned Him His way,
Or who has said, 'You have done t wrong'?
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"Remember to u magnify His work,
Of which men have sung.
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Everyone has seen it;
Man looks on it from afar.
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"Behold, God is great, and we v do not know Him;
w Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
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For He x draws up drops of water,
Which distill as rain from the mist,
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y Which the clouds drop down
And pour abundantly on man.
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Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds,
The thunder from His canopy?
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Look, He z scatters His light upon it,
And covers the depths of the sea.
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For a by these He judges the peoples;
He b gives food in abundance.
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c He covers His hands with lightning,
And commands it to 9 strike.
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d His thunder declares it,
The cattle also, concerning 10 the rising storm.