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1 Elihu continued:
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2 "Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God's behalf. 3 I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
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4 Be assured that my words are not false; one perfect in knowledge is with you.
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5 "God is mighty, but does not despise men; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.
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6 He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights.
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7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
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8 But if men are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction,
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9 he tells them what they have done-- that they have sinned arrogantly.
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10 He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.
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11 If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.
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12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
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13 "The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.
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14 They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines.
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15 But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.
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16 "He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.
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17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you.
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18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.
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19 Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?
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20 Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes.
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21 Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.
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22 "God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
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23 Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, 'You have done wrong'?
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24 Remember to extol his work, which men have praised in song.
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25 All mankind has seen it; men gaze on it from afar.
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26 How great is God--beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.
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27 "He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams ;
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28 the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.
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29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?
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30 See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.
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31 This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance.
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32 He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
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33 His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach.
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