¶ Elihu also proceeded, and said,

Suffer¹ me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak² on God's behalf.

I will fetch³ my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe⁴ righteousness to my Maker.

For truly my⁵ words shall not be false: he that is perfect⁶ in⁷ knowledge is with thee.

¶ Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth⁸ not any: he is mighty⁹ in strength and wisdom¹⁰.

He preserveth¹¹ not the life of the wicked: but giveth¹² right to the poor¹³.

He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with¹⁵ kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth¹⁶ establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

And if¹⁷ they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords¹⁸ of affliction;

Then he¹⁹ sheweth them their²⁰ work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

¶ He openeth²¹ also their ear to discipline, and commandeth²² that they return from iniquity.

If²³ they obey and serve him, they shall spend²⁴ their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

But if²⁵ they obey not, they shall perish²⁶ by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

But the hypocrites in heart heap²⁷ up wrath: they²⁸ cry not when he bindeth²⁹ them.

They die³⁰ in youth, and their life is among the unclean³¹.

¶ He delivereth³² the poor³³ in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.

Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad³⁴ place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table³⁵ should be full of fatness.

But thou hast fulfilled³⁶ the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee³⁷.

Because³⁸ there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his³⁹ stroke: then⁴⁰ a great ransom cannot deliver thee⁴¹.

Will⁴² he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all⁴³ the forces of strength.

¶ Desire⁴⁴ not the night, when people are cut⁴⁵ off in their place.

Take heed, regard⁴⁶ not iniquity: for this⁴⁷ hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

Behold, God⁴⁸ exalteth by his power: who⁴⁹ teacheth like him?

Who hath⁵⁰ enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou⁵¹ hast wrought iniquity?

¶ Remember that thou magnify⁵² his work, which⁵³ men behold.

Every man may see it; man may behold⁵⁴ it afar off.

Behold, God⁵⁵ is great, and we⁵⁶ know him not, neither⁵⁷ can the number of his years be searched out.

For he⁵⁸ maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour⁵⁹ thereof:

⁶⁰Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

Also can any understand the spreadings⁶¹ of the clouds, or the noise⁶² of his tabernacle?

¶ Behold, he⁶³ spreadeth his light upon it, and⁶⁴ covereth the bottom⁶⁵ of the sea.

For by⁶⁶ them judgeth he the people; he giveth⁶⁷ meat in abundance.

With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.

The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.