Job 35

1 And Elius resumed and said,

Moreover Elihu continued, saying,

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?

“Do you think this is just when you say, 'My right before God'?

3 I will answer you, and your three friends.

For you ask, 'What use is it to me?' and, 'Would I be better off if I had sinned?'

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

I will answer you, both you and your friends.

5 If you have sinned, what will you do?

Look up at the sky, and see it; see the sky, which is higher than you.

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

If you have sinned, what harm do you do to God? If your transgressions pile up high, what do you do to him?

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

If you are righteous, what can you give to him? What will he receive from your hand?

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

Your wickedness may hurt a man, as you are a man, and your righteousness might benefit another 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.

Because of many acts of oppression, people cry out; they call for help from the arms of mighty men.

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

But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives 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 teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth, and who makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'

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

There they cry out, but God gives no answer because of the pride of evil men.

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

God will certainly not hear a foolish cry; the Almighty will pay no attention to 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.

How much less will he answer you if you say that you do not see him, that your case is before him, and that you are waiting for him!

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

Now you say that his anger does not punish, and he does not take even a litte notice of transgression.

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

So Job opens his mouth only to speak foolishness; he piles up words without knowledge.”