Job 35

1 Moreover Elihu answered and said:

And Elius resumed and said,

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

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

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

I will answer you, and your three friends.

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

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

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

If you have sinned, what will you do?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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