Job 35

1 Moreover Elihu answered and said:

And Elihu went on to say:

2 Thinkest thou this to be thy right, or sayest thou: 'I am righteousness before God',

“Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I am more righteous than God.’

3 That thou inquirest: 'What advantage will it be unto Thee?' And: 'What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?'

For you ask, ‘What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’

4 I will give thee answer, and thy companions with thee.

I will reply to you and to your friends as well.

5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the skies, which are higher than thou.

Look to the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you.

6 If thou hast sinned, what doest thou against Him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto Him?

If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? If you multiply your transgressions, what do you do to Him?

7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou Him? Or what receiveth He of thy hand?

If you are righteous, what do you give Him, or what does He receive from your hand?

8 Thy wickedness concerneth a man as thou art; and thy righteousness a son of man.

Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself, and your righteousness only a son of man.

9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; they cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.

Men cry out under great oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty.

10 But none saith: 'Where is God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night;

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

11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?'

who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’

12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.

There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.

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

Surely God does not listen to empty pleas, and the Almighty does not take note of it.

14 Yea, when thou sayest thou canst not see Him — the cause is before Him; therefore wait thou for Him.

How much less, then, when you say that you do not see Him, that your case is before Him and you must wait for Him,

15 And now, is it for nought that He punished in His anger? And hath He not full knowledge of arrogance?

and further, that in His anger He has not punished or taken much notice of folly!

16 But Job doth open his mouth in vanity; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

So Job opens his mouth in vain and multiplies words without knowledge.”