(4) For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. (5) В¶ Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. (6) He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. (7) He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them forever, and they are exalted. (8) And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; (9) Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. (10) He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. (11) If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. (12) But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. (13) But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. (14) They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean. (15) В¶ He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. (16) Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness. (17) But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. (18) Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. (19) Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. (20) Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. (21) Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
Elihu hath here beautifully shown the gracious design of the LORD in his visitations, and a most delightful chain of reasoning upon the subject he is here making use of, from beginning to end. He first dwells upon that glorious and distinguishing perfection of the Almighty, his power and sovereignty; and, having set this down as the bottom and foundation of what he was going to reason upon, he shows, in a clear manner, some of the causes for which that omnipotency is exercised. As first, by the display of his power, the LORD induceth trouble and affliction, on purpose to lead the mind into a deep sense of sin. This blessed office of the HOLY GHOST is not unfrequently preparatory to the experimental knowledge of JESUS, and his salvation: and when the LORD hath thus induced trouble, to make the heart sensible of sin, the next gracious office is, as Elihu expresses it, to open the ear to discipline; that is, by making sin appear what it really is, exceeding sinful; and thereby to make a man out of love with himself; to bring the soul in love with the work of GOD'S righteousness in the redemption of the LORD JESUS. And thus having brought the sinner acquainted with himself, which before he did not know, then in the love of GOD, and in the hatred of sin, to keep back the heart from iniquity.