Lexicon :: Strong's H433 - 'ĕlôha

“But Jeshurun (Israel) became fat and kicked [at God].

You became fat, thick, sleek, and obstinate!

Then he abandoned God who had made him,

And scorned the Rock of his salvation.

“They sacrificed to demons, not to God,

To gods whom they have not known,

New gods who came lately,

Whom your fathers never feared.

“They refused to listen and obey,

And did not remember Your wondrous acts which You had performed among them;

So they stiffened their necks and [in their rebellion] appointed a leader in order to return them to slavery in Egypt.

But You are a God of forgiveness,

Gracious and merciful and compassionate,

[fn]Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness;

And You did not abandon them.

“May that day be darkness;

Let God above not care about it,

Nor light shine on it.

“Why is the light of day given to a man whose way is hidden,

And whom God has hedged in?

“By the breath of God they perish,

And by the blast of His anger they are consumed.

‘Can [mortal] man be just before God or be more righteous than He?

Can a man be pure before his Maker or be more cleansed than He?

“Behold, how happy and fortunate is the man whom God reproves,

So do not despise or reject the discipline of the Almighty [subjecting you to trial and suffering].

Because the arrows of the Almighty are within me,

My spirit drinks their poison;

The terrors of God are arrayed against me.

“Oh that my request would come to pass,

And that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

“God will not turn back His anger;

The [proud] helpers of Rahab [the arrogant monster of the sea] bow under Him.

“I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me [and declare me guilty]!

Show me why You contend and argue and struggle with me.

“But oh, that God would speak,

And open His lips [to speak] against you,

“I am a joke to my friends;

I, one whom God answered when he called upon Him—

A just and blameless man is a joke [and laughed to scorn].

“The tents of the destroyers prosper;

And those who provoke God are [apparently] secure,

Whom God brings into their power.

“Do you hear the secret counsel of God,

And do you limit [the possession of] wisdom to yourself?

“My friends are scoffers [who ridicule];

My eye pours out tears to God.

Know then that God has wronged me and overthrown me

And has closed His net around me.

“Have pity on me! Have pity on me, O you my friends,

For the hand of God has touched me.

“Even after my [mortal] skin is destroyed [by death],

Yet from my [immortal] flesh I will see God,

“Their houses are safe from fear;

And the rod of God is not on them.

“You say, ‘God stores away [the punishment of] man’s wickedness for his children.’

Let God repay him so that he may know and experience it.

“Is not God in the height of heaven?

And behold the distant stars, how high they are!

Then you will have delight in the Almighty,

And you will lift up your face to God.

“From the [populous and crowded] city men groan,

And the souls of the wounded cry out for help;

Yet God [seemingly] does not pay attention to the wrong [done to them].

As long as my life is within me,

And the breath of God is [still] in my nostrils,

“For what is the hope of the godless, even though he has gained [in this world],

When God takes his life?

“Will he take delight in the Almighty?

Will he call on God at all times?

“Oh, that I were as in the months of old,

As in the days when God watched over me,

As I was in the prime of my days,

When the friendship and counsel of God were over my tent,

“For what is the portion I would have from God above,

And what heritage from the Almighty on high?

Oh, let Him weigh me with accurate scales,

And let God know my integrity.

“Look, let me answer you, in this you are not right or just;

For God is greater and far superior to man.

“He will pray to God, and He shall be favorable to him,

So that he looks at His face with joy;

For God restores to man His righteousness [that is, his right standing with God—with its joys].

“But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,

Who gives songs [of rejoicing] in the night,

“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you,

That there is yet more to say on God’s behalf.

“Do you know how God establishes and commands them,

And makes the lightning of His [storm] cloud shine?

“Out of the north comes golden splendor [and people can hardly look on it];

Around God is awesome splendor and majesty [far too glorious for man’s eyes].

For God has made her forget wisdom,

And has not given her a share of understanding.

“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

Let him who disputes with God answer it.”

For who is God, but the LORD?

Or who is a rock, except our God,

The LORD lives, blessed be my rock;

And may the God of my salvation be exalted,

“Now consider this, you who forget God,

Or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be no one to rescue [you].

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,

At the presence of the God of Jacob (Israel),