Job 35

1 Then Elihu continued, saying,

Moreover Elihu continued, saying,

2 “Do you think it's honest to claim you are right before God?

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

3 And you ask, ‘What benefit do I get? What good has it done me by not sinning?’

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

4 I'll tell you, and your friends too!

I will answer you, both you and your friends.

5 Just look up at the sky and see. Observe the clouds high above you.

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

6 If you sin, how does that harm God? How do your many sins affect God?

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

7 If you do what's right, what good are you doing for him?

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

8 No—your sins only affect people like yourself, and whatever good you do only affects them too.

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

9 People cry out because of terrible persecution; they call for someone to save them from their oppressors.

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

10 But no one asks, ‘Where is the God my maker, the one who gives songs in the night,

But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

11 who teaches us more than the animals, and makes us wiser than the birds?’

who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth, and who makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'

12 When they call out for help, God doesn't answer because they are proud and evil people.

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

13 God doesn't listen to their empty cries; the Almighty doesn't pay them any attention.

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

14 How much less will God hear you when you say he can't see you? Your case is before him, so you have to wait for him.

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 You're saying that God doesn't punish people in his anger and pays little attention to sin.

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

16 You, Job, are talking nonsense, making long speeches when you know nothing!”

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