Job 35

1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,

Then Elihu continued, saying,

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

“Do you think it's honest to claim you are right before God?

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

And you ask, ‘What benefit do I get? What good has it done me by not sinning?’

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

I'll tell you, and your friends too!

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

Just look up at the sky and see. Observe the clouds high above you.

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

If you sin, how does that harm God? How do your many sins affect God?

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

If you do what's right, what good are you doing for him?

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

No—your sins only affect people like yourself, and whatever good you do only affects them too.

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

People cry out because of terrible persecution; they call for someone to save them from their oppressors.

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

But no one asks, ‘Where is the God my maker, the one 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 the heavens?

who teaches us more than the animals, and makes us wiser than the birds?’

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

When they call out for help, God doesn't answer because they are proud and evil people.

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

God doesn't listen to their empty cries; the Almighty doesn't pay them any attention.

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

How much less will God hear you when you say he can't see you? Your case is before him, so you have to wait for him.

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

You're saying that God doesn't punish people in his anger and pays little attention to sin.

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

You, Job, are talking nonsense, making long speeches when you know nothing!”