Job 35

1 Moreover Elihu answered and said:

Then commenced Elihu, and said,

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

Dost thou deem this to be just, that thou hast said, “My righteousness is more than God's?”

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

For thou sayest, “What benefit will it be unto thee? what more profit shall I have, than if I had sinned?”

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

I will truly reply unto thee with words, and unto thy friends with thee.

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

Look unto the heavens, and see; and gaze on the skies which are higher than thou.

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

If thou sin, what dost thou effect against him? and if thy transgressions be multiplied, what canst thou do unto him?

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

If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what doth he accept out of thy hand?

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

A man like thyself thy wickedness may reach, and a son of earth thy righteousness.

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

By reason of the multitude of oppressions [the wicked] cause men to cry: these complain aloud because of the arm of the mighty.

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

But [man] saith not, Where is God my maker, who bestoweth joyful songs even in the night;

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

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

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

There do they cry, but he answereth not: because of the pride of evil men.

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

Only what is false will God not hear, nor will the Almighty regard it.

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

Although thou sayest, thou canst not see him: yet the decision is before him; and do thou wait for him.

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

But now, because his anger hath punished nothing, shall he not greatly take cognizance of the multitude of sins?

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

But Job openeth wide his mouth for nought: without knowledge he heapeth up words.