Job 35

1 Then Elihu also said this:

Moreover Elihu answered and said:

2 “[Job, ] do you think that what you said is right/correct? You say, ‘God knows that I am innocent,’

Thinkest thou this to be thy right, or sayest thou: 'I am righteousness before God',

3 and you say [to God], ‘What good have I received for not sinning? What benefit have I received from that?’ [DOU, RHQ]

That thou inquirest: 'What advantage will it be unto Thee?' And: 'What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?'

4 [Well, ] I will answer you, and I will answer your three friends, too.

I will give thee answer, and thy companions with thee.

5 “[Job], look up at the sky; look at the clouds that are high above you and realize [that God is far above everything].

Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the skies, which are higher than thou.

6 If you have sinned, that does not [RHQ] harm God at all. If many times you do things that are wrong, that certainly does not [RHQ] affect him [DOU].

If thou hast sinned, what doest thou against Him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto Him?

7 And if you are righteous, does that help God? No, he is not benefited by anything that you do [DOU].

If thou be righteous, what givest thou Him? Or what receiveth He of thy hand?

8 It is other people who suffer because of the wicked things that you do, but by doing good things for people, you help them.

Thy wickedness concerneth a man as thou art; and thy righteousness a son of man.

9 “People cry out because of the many things that people do to others to (oppress them/treat them cruelly); they call for help because of the things that powerful people do [MTY] to them.

By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; they cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.

10 But (no one/none of them) calls out [to God], saying ‘Why does God, my creator, [not help me]? He [should] enable me to sing [joyful] songs, [instead of very sad songs, ] during the night.

But none saith: 'Where is God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night;

11 He [should be able to] teach us more than all the wild animals do; he [should] enable us to become wiser than [all] the birds are!’

Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?'

12 People cry out [for help], but God does not answer them, because those who cry out are proud and evil people.

There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.

13 It is useless for them to cry out, because God, the Almighty One, does not pay any attention to what they say.

Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

14 So, when you complain that you cannot see God, and you tell him that you are waiting for him [to decide whether or not you should be punished for what you have done], God will not listen to you, either!

Yea, when thou sayest thou canst not see Him — the cause is before Him; therefore wait thou for Him.

15 Furthermore, [you say that] because he does not pay attention when people commit sins, he does not become angry and punish them.

And now, is it for nought that He punished in His anger? And hath He not full knowledge of arrogance?

16 You say things that are useless; you say a lot of things without knowing [what you are talking about].”

But Job doth open his mouth in vanity; he multiplieth words without knowledge.