Job 35

1 Moreover Elihu proceeded, and said:

And Elihu made answer and said,

2 Dost thou then think this to be right? Thou hast said, “I am more righteous than God.”

Does it seem to you to be right, and righteousness before God, to say,

3 For thou askest, “What advantage have I? What have I gained, more than if I had sinned?”

What profit is it to me, and how am I better off than if I had done wrong?

4 I will answer thee, And thy companions with thee.

I will make answer to you and to your friends:

5 Look up to the heavens, and see! And behold the clouds, which are high above thee!

Let your eyes be turned to the heavens, and lifted up to see the skies; they are higher than you.

6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against Him? If thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou to him?

If you have done wrong, is he any the worse for it? and if your sins are great in number, what is it to him?

7 If thou art righteous, what dost thou give him? Or what receiveth he at thy hand?

If you are upright, what do you give to him? or what does he take from your hand?

8 Thy wickedness injureth only a man like thyself, And thy righteousness profiteth only a son of man.

Your evil-doing may have an effect on a man like yourself, or your righteousness on a son of man.

9 The oppressed cry out on account of the multitude of wrongs; They cry aloud on account of the arm of the mighty.

Because the hand of the cruel is hard on them, men are making sounds of grief; they are crying out for help because of the arm of the strong.

10 But none saith, “Where is God, my Maker, Who giveth songs in the night;

But no one has said, Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night;

11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, And maketh us wiser than the birds of heaven?”

Who gives us more knowledge than the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the heaven?

12 There they cry aloud on account of the pride of the wicked; But he giveth no answer.

There they are crying out because of the pride of the evil-doers, but he gives them no answer.

13 For God will not hear the vain supplication, Nor will the Almighty regard it;

But God will not give ear to what is false, or the Ruler of all take note of it;

14 Much less when thou sayest thou canst not see him: Justice is with him, —only wait thou for him!

How much less when you say that you do not see him; that the cause is before him, and you are waiting for him.

15 But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, Nor taken strict note of transgression,

And now ...;

16 Therefore hath Job opened his mouth rashly, And multiplied words without knowledge.

And Job's mouth is open wide to give out what is of no profit, increasing words without knowledge.