< Job 35 >
1 Elihu spake moreover, and said,
Moreover Elihu, responded and said: —
2 Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s?
This, dost thou think to be right? Thou hast said—My righteousness is more than GOD’S.
3 For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?
For thou dost say, How can one profit by thee? How can I benefit, more than by my sin?
4 I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.
I, will answer thee plainly, and thy friends with thee.
5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.
Look at the heavens and see, —and survey the skies—they are higher than thou.
6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
If thou sinnest, what canst thou work against him? Or, 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 thine hand?
If thou art righteous, what canst thou give unto him? Or what, at thy hand, can he accept?
8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.
Unto a man like thyself, might thy lawlessness [reach], and, unto a son of the earth-born, thy righteousness.
9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.
By reason of the multitude of oppressions, [men] make outcry, They cry for help, by reason of the arm of the mighty;
10 But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;
But none saith—Where is GOD my maker, Who giveth 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 teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and, beyond the bird of the heavens, giveth us wisdom?
12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.
There, [men] make outcry, and he answereth not, because of the arrogance of evil-doers.
13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.
Howbeit, vanity, will GOD not hear, Yea, the Almighty, will not regard it.
14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.
How much less when thou sayest thou wilt not regard him! The cause, is before him, and thou must wait for him.
15 But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:
But, now, because it is not so, [thou sayest] —His anger hath punished, and yet hath he not at all known of transgression;
16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.
Thus, Job, vainly openeth his mouth, Without knowledge, he multiplieth words.