Job 35

1 And Elius resumed and said,

Moreover Elihu answered and said,

2 What is this that you think to be according to right? who are you that you have said, I am righteous before the Lord?

Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?

3 I will answer you, and your three friends.

For thou hast asked of what profit it is unto thee: what do I gain more than if I had sinned?

4 Look up to the sky and see; and consider the clouds, how high [they are] above you.

I will reply to thee in words, and to thy companions with thee.

5 If you have sinned, what will you do?

Look unto the heavens and see; and survey the skies: they are higher than thou.

6 and if too you have transgressed much, what can you perform?

If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? If thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

7 And suppose you are righteous, what will you give him? or what shall he receive of your hand?

If thou be righteous, what givest thou to him? or what doth he receive of thy hand?

8 Your ungodliness [may affect] a man who is like to you; or your righteousness a son of man.

Thy wickedness [may affect] a man as thou [art], and thy righteousness a son of man.

9 They that are oppressed of a multitude will be ready to cry out; they will call for help because of the arm of many.

By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry; they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty:

10 But none said, Where is God that made me, who appoints the night-watches;

But none saith, Where is God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night,

11 who makes me to differ from the four-footed beasts of the earth, and from the birds of the sky?

Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowl of the heavens?

12 There they shall cry, and none shall listen, even because of the insolence of wicked men.

There they cry, and he answereth not, because of the pride of evil men.

13 For the Lord desires not to look on error, for he is the Almighty One.

Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

14 He beholds them that perform lawless deeds, and he will save me: and do you plead before him, if you can praise him, as it is [possible] even now.

Although thou sayest thou dost not see him, judgment is before him, therefore wait for him.

15 For he is not [now] regarding his wrath, nor has he noticed severely any trespass.

But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, doth not [Job] know [his] great arrogancy?

16 Yet Job vainly opens his mouth, in ignorance he multiplies words.

For Job hath opened his mouth in vanity, and made words abundant without knowledge.