Lexicon :: Strong's H410 - 'ēl

“As for me, I would seek God and inquire of Him,

And I would commit my cause to God;

“Does God pervert justice?

Or does [fn]the Almighty pervert righteousness?

“If you would [diligently] seek God

And implore the compassion and favor of the Almighty,

“So are the paths of all who forget God;

And the hope of the godless will perish,

“Behold, God will not reject a man of integrity,

Nor will He strengthen or support evildoers.

“Yes, I know it is true.

But how can a mortal man be right before God?

“The tents of the destroyers prosper;

And those who provoke God are [apparently] secure,

Whom God brings into their power.

“But I wish to speak to [fn]the Almighty,

And I desire to argue with God.

“Will you speak what is unjust for God,

And speak what is deceitful for Him?

“Indeed, you are doing away with fear,

And you are diminishing meditation before God.

“Are the consolations of God [as we have interpreted them to you] too trivial for you,

[Or] were we too gentle toward you [in our first speech] to be effective?

That you should turn your spirit against God

And let such words [as you have spoken] go out of your mouth?

“Because he has stretched out his hand against God

And behaves arrogantly against [fn]the Almighty,

“God hands me over to [fn]criminals

And tosses me [headlong] into the hands of the wicked.

“Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked and the ungodly,

And such is the place of him who does not know or recognize or honor God.”

“Why do you persecute me as God does?

Why are you not satisfied with my flesh (anguish)?

“He swallows [his ill-gotten] riches,

But will vomit them up;

God will drive them out of his belly.

“This is the wicked man’s portion from God,

And the heritage decreed and appointed to him by God.”

“Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us,

For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.

“Can anyone teach God knowledge,

Seeing that He judges those on high?

“Can a vigorous man be of use to God,

Or a wise man be useful to himself?

“You say, ‘What does God know [about me]?

Can He judge through the thick darkness?

“They said to God, ‘Depart from us!

What can the Almighty do for us or to us?’

“For God has made my heart faint,

And the Almighty has terrified me,

“How then can man be justified and righteous with God?

Or how can he who is born of a woman be pure and clean?

“As God lives, who has taken away my right and denied me justice,

And the Almighty, who has caused bitterness and grief for my soul,

“Will God hear his cry

When trouble and distress come upon him?

“I will teach you regarding the hand (power) of God;

I will not conceal what is with the Almighty [God’s actual treatment of the wicked].

“This [which I am about to explain] is the portion of a wicked man from God,

And the inheritance which tyrants and oppressors receive from the Almighty:

What then could I do when God arises [to judge me]?

When He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?

“For tragedy from God is a terror to me,

And because of His majesty and exaltation I can do nothing [nor endure facing Him].

This also would have been [a heinous] sin calling for judgment,

For I would have denied God above.

“Beware if you say,

‘We have found wisdom;

God thrusts Job down [justly], not man [for God alone is dealing with him].’

“The Spirit of God has made me,

And the breath of [fn]the Almighty gives me life [which inspires me].

“Behold, I belong to God like you;

I too was formed out of the clay.

“For God speaks once,

And even twice, yet no one notices it [including you, Job].

[Elihu comments,] “Behold, God does all these things [fn]twice, yes, three times, with a man,

“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous [and innocent],

But God has taken away my right;

“Therefore hear me, you men of understanding.

Far be it from God that He would do wickedness,

And from the Almighty to do wrong.

“Surely God will not act wickedly,

Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.

“For He sets no appointed time for a man,

That he should appear before Him in judgment.

“For has anyone said to God,

‘I have endured my chastisement;

I will not offend anymore;

‘For he adds rebellion [in his unsubmissive, defiant attitude toward God] to his [unacknowledged] sin;

He claps his hands among us [in open mockery and contempt of God],

And he multiplies his words [of accusation] against God.’”

“Do you think this is according to [your] justice?

Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?

“Surely God will not listen to an empty cry [which lacks trust],

Nor will the Almighty regard it.

“Behold, God is mighty, and yet does not despise anyone [nor regard any as trivial];

He is mighty in the strength and power of understanding.

“Behold, God is exalted in His power;

Who is a ruler or a teacher like Him?

“Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him;

The number of His years is unsearchable.

“God thunders marvelously with His voice;

He does great things which we cannot comprehend.