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Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?–

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Who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?

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Who doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respects the rich more than the poor; for they all are the work of his hands.

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In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.

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“For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.

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There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

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For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

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He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.

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Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

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He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

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because they turned aside from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,

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so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.

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When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? Alike whether to a nation, or to a man,

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that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

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“For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.

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Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

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Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.

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Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:

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Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’

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I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.

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For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”

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Moreover Elihu answered,

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“Do you think this to be your right, or do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s,’

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That you ask, ‘What advantage will it be to you? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’

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I will answer you, and your companions with you.

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Look to the heavens, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.

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If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him? If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?

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If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he receive from your hand?

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Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are, and your righteousness may profit a son of man.

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“By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out. They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.

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But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

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who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’

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There they cry, but none gives answer, because of the pride of evil men.

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Surely God will not hear an empty cry, neither will the Almighty regard it.

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How much less when you say you don’t see him. The cause is before him, and you wait for him!

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But now, because he has not visited in his anger, neither does he greatly regard arrogance.

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Therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, and he multiplies words without knowledge.”

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Elihu also continued, and said,

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“Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.

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I will get my knowledge from afar, and 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, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

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He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.

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He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.

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If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,

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then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

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He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.

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If they listen and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

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But if they don’t listen, they shall perish by the sword; they shall die without knowledge.

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“But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.

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They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.

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He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.

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Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a broad place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.

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“But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.

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Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.

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Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?

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Don’t desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.

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Take heed, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.

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Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

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Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness?’

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“Remember that you magnify his work, whereof men have sung.

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All men have looked thereon. Man sees it afar off.

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Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.

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For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,

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Which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.

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Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?

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Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.

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For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.

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He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.

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Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.

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“Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.

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Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out of his mouth.

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He sends it forth under the whole sky, and his lightning to the ends of the earth.

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After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard.

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God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can’t comprehend.

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For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth;’ likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.

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He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he has made may know it.

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Then the animals take cover, and remain in their dens.

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Out of its room comes the storm, and cold out of the north.

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By the breath of God, ice is given, and the breadth of the waters is frozen.

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Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.

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It is turned around by his guidance, that they may do whatever he commands them on the surface of the habitable world,

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Whether it is for correction, or for his land, or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.

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“Listen to this, Job. Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

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Do you know how God controls them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?

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Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

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You whose clothing is warm, when the earth is still by reason of the south wind?

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Can you, with him, spread out the sky, which is strong as a cast metal mirror?

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Teach us what we shall tell him, for we can’t make our case by reason of darkness.

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Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?

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Now men don’t see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.

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Out of the north comes golden splendor. With God is awesome majesty.

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We can’t reach the Almighty. He is exalted in power. In justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.

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Therefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.”

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Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind,

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“Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

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Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!

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“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.

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Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?

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Whereupon were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,