Job 35

1 And Elihu answers and says:

Moreover Elihu continued, saying,

2 “Have you reckoned this for judgment [when] you have said, My righteousness [is] more than God’s?

“Do you think this is just when you say, 'My right before God'?

3 For you say, What does it profit You? What do I profit from my sin?

For you ask, 'What use is it to me?' and, 'Would I be better off if I had sinned?'

4 I return words, and your friends with you,

I will answer you, both you and your friends.

5 Behold attentively the heavens—and see, And behold the clouds, They have been higher than you.

Look up at the sky, and see it; see the sky, which is higher than you.

6 If you have sinned, what do you do against Him? And your transgressions have been multiplied, What do you do to Him?

If you have sinned, what harm do you do to God? If your transgressions pile up high, what do you do to him?

7 If you have been righteous, What do you give to Him? Or what does He receive from your hand?

If you are righteous, what can you give to him? What will he receive from your hand?

8 For a man like yourself [is] your wickedness, And for a son of man your righteousness.

Your wickedness may hurt a man, as you are a man, and your righteousness might benefit another son of man.

9 Because of the multitude of oppressions They cause to cry out, They cry because of the arm of the mighty.

Because of many acts of oppression, people cry out; they call for help from the arms of mighty men.

10 And none said, Where [is] God my Maker? Giving songs in the night,

But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

11 Teaching us more than the beasts of the earth, Indeed, He makes us wiser than the bird of the heavens.

who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth, and who makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'

12 There they cry, and He does not answer, Because of the pride of evildoers.

There they cry out, but God gives no answer because of the pride of evil men.

13 Surely God does not hear vanity, And the Mighty does not behold it.

God will certainly not hear a foolish cry; the Almighty will pay no attention to it.

14 Indeed, though you say you do not behold Him, Judgment [is] before Him, and stays for Him.

How much less will he answer you if you say that you do not see him, that your case is before him, and that you are waiting for him!

15 And now, because there is not, He has appointed His anger, And He has not known in great extremity.

Now you say that his anger does not punish, and he does not take even a litte notice of transgression.

16 And Job opens his mouth [with] vanity, He multiplies words without knowledge.”

So Job opens his mouth only to speak foolishness; he piles up words without knowledge.”