< Job 35 >

1 Moreover Elihu answered,
Moreover Elihu proceeded, and said:
2 "Do you think this to be your right, or do you say, 'My righteousness is more than God's,'
Dost thou then think this to be right? Thou hast said, “I am more righteous than God.”
3 That you ask, 'What advantage will it be to you? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?'
For thou askest, “What advantage have I? What have I gained, more than if I had sinned?”
4 I will answer you, and your companions with you.
I will answer thee, And thy companions with thee.
5 Look to the heavens, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.
Look up to the heavens, and see! And behold the clouds, which are high above thee!
6 If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him? If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
If thou sinnest, what doest thou against Him? If thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou to him?
7 If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he receive from your hand?
If thou art righteous, what dost thou give him? Or what receiveth he at thy hand?
8 Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are, and your righteousness may profit a son of man.
Thy wickedness injureth only a man like thyself, And thy righteousness profiteth only 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.
The oppressed cry out on account of the multitude of wrongs; They cry aloud on account of the arm of the mighty.
10 But none says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,
But none saith, “Where is God, my Maker, Who giveth songs in the night;
11 who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'
Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, And maketh us wiser than the birds of heaven?”
12 There they cry, but none gives answer, because of the pride of evil men.
There they cry aloud on account of the pride of the wicked; But he giveth no answer.
13 Surely God will not hear an empty cry, neither will Shaddai regard it.
For God will not hear the vain supplication, Nor will the Almighty regard it;
14 How much less when you say you do not see him. The cause is before him, and you wait for him.
Much less when thou sayest thou canst not see him: Justice is with him, —only wait thou for him!
15 But now, because he has not visited in his anger, neither does he greatly regard arrogance.
But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, Nor taken strict note of transgression,
16 Therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, and he multiplies words without knowledge."
Therefore hath Job opened his mouth rashly, And multiplied words without knowledge.

< Job 35 >