Job 35
1 Then commenced Elihu, and said,
Then Elihu continued, saying,
2 Dost thou deem this to be just, that thou hast said, “My righteousness is more than God's?”
“Do you think it's honest to claim you are right before God?
3 For thou sayest, “What benefit will it be unto thee? what more profit shall I have, than if I had sinned?”
And you ask, ‘What benefit do I get? What good has it done me by not sinning?’
4 I will truly reply unto thee with words, and unto thy friends with thee.
I'll tell you, and your friends too!
5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and gaze on the skies which are higher than thou.
Just look up at the sky and see. Observe the clouds high above you.
6 If thou sin, what dost thou effect against him? and if thy transgressions be multiplied, what canst thou do unto him?
If you sin, how does that harm God? How do your many sins affect God?
7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what doth he accept out of thy hand?
If you do what's right, what good are you doing for him?
8 A man like thyself thy wickedness may reach, and a son of earth thy righteousness.
No—your sins only affect people like yourself, and whatever good you do only affects them too.
9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions [the wicked] cause men to cry: these complain aloud because of the arm of the mighty.
People cry out because of terrible persecution; they call for someone to save them from their oppressors.
10 But [man] saith not, Where is God my maker, who bestoweth joyful songs even in the night;
But no one asks, ‘Where is the God my maker, the one who gives songs in the night,
11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of the heavens?
who teaches us more than the animals, and makes us wiser than the birds?’
12 There do they cry, but he answereth not: because of the pride of evil men.
When they call out for help, God doesn't answer because they are proud and evil people.
13 Only what is false will God not hear, nor will the Almighty regard it.
God doesn't listen to their empty cries; the Almighty doesn't pay them any attention.
14 Although thou sayest, thou canst not see him: yet the decision is before him; and do thou wait for him.
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.
15 But now, because his anger hath punished nothing, shall he not greatly take cognizance of the multitude of sins?
You're saying that God doesn't punish people in his anger and pays little attention to sin.
16 But Job openeth wide his mouth for nought: without knowledge he heapeth up words.
You, Job, are talking nonsense, making long speeches when you know nothing!”
