Job — Chapter 35

1Elihu spake moreover, and said,

2Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s?

3For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

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

5Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.

6If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

7If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?

8Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

9By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.

10But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

11Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

12There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.

13Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

14Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.

15But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:

16Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

1Moreover Elihu answered and said,

2Thinkest thou this to be [thy] right, [Or] sayest thou, My righteousness is more than God`s,

3That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? [And], What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?

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

5Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the skies, which are higher than thou.

6If thou hast sinned, what effectest thou against him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

7If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or what receiveth he of thy hand?

8Thy wickedness [may hurt] a man as thou art; And thy righteousness [may profit] a son of man.

9By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.

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

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

12There they cry, but none giveth answer, Because of the pride of evil men.

13Surely God will not hear an empty [cry], Neither will the Almighty regard it.

14How much less when thou sayest thou beholdest him not, The cause is before him, and thou waitest for him!

15But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, Neither doth he greatly regard arrogance;

16Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vanity; He multiplieth words without knowledge.

1Then Elihu answered:

2“Do you think this to be just when you say, ‘My right before God’?

3But you say, ‘What will it profit you,’ and, ‘What do I gain by not sinning?’

4I will reply to you, and to your friends with you.

5Gaze at the heavens and see; consider the clouds, which are higher than you.

6If you sin, how does it affect God? If your transgressions are many, what does it do to him?

7If you are righteous, what do you give to God, or what does he receive from your hand?

8Your wickedness affects only a person like yourself, and your righteousness only other people.

9“People cry out because of the excess of oppression; they cry out for help because of the power of the mighty.

10But no one says, ‘Where is God, my Creator, who gives songs in the night,

11who teaches us more than the wild animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’

12Then they cry out—but he does not answer— because of the arrogance of the wicked.

13Surely it is an empty cry—God does not hear it; the Almighty does not take notice of it.

14How much less, then, when you say that you do not perceive him, that the case is before him and you are waiting for him!

15And further, when you say that his anger does not punish, and that he does not know transgression!

16So Job opens his mouth to no purpose; without knowledge he multiplies words.”

1Moreover Elihu answered,

2“Do you think this to be your right, or do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s,’

3That you ask, ‘What advantage will it be to you? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’

4I will answer you, and your companions with you.

5Look to the heavens, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.

6If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him? If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?

7If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he receive from your hand?

8Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are, and your righteousness may profit 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.

10But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

11who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’

12There they cry, but no one gives answer, because of the pride of evil men.

13Surely God will not hear an empty cry, neither will the Almighty regard it.

14How much less when you say you don’t see him. The cause is before him, and you wait for him!

15But now, because he has not visited in his anger, neither does he greatly regard arrogance.

16Therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, and he multiplies words without knowledge.”