Job 35

1 Then commenced Elihu, and said,

And Elius resumed and said,

2 Dost thou deem this to be just, that thou hast said, “My righteousness is more than God's?”

What is this that you think to be according to right? who are you that you have said, I am righteous before the Lord?

3 For thou sayest, “What benefit will it be unto thee? what more profit shall I have, than if I had sinned?”

I will answer you, and your three friends.

4 I will truly reply unto thee with words, and unto thy friends with thee.

Look up to the sky and see; and consider the clouds, how high [they are] above you.

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

If you have sinned, what will you do?

6 If thou sin, what dost thou effect against him? and if thy transgressions be multiplied, what canst thou do unto him?

and if too you have transgressed much, what can you perform?

7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what doth he accept out of thy hand?

And suppose you are righteous, what will you give him? or what shall he receive of your hand?

8 A man like thyself thy wickedness may reach, and a son of earth thy righteousness.

Your ungodliness [may affect] a man who is like to you; or your righteousness a son of man.

9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions [the wicked] cause men to cry: these complain aloud because of the arm of the mighty.

They that are oppressed of a multitude will be ready to cry out; they will call for help because of the arm of many.

10 But [man] saith not, Where is God my maker, who bestoweth joyful songs even in the night;

But none said, Where is God that made me, who appoints the night-watches;

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

who makes me to differ from the four-footed beasts of the earth, and from the birds of the sky?

12 There do they cry, but he answereth not: because of the pride of evil men.

There they shall cry, and none shall listen, even because of the insolence of wicked men.

13 Only what is false will God not hear, nor will the Almighty regard it.

For the Lord desires not to look on error, for he is the Almighty One.

14 Although thou sayest, thou canst not see him: yet the decision is before him; and do thou wait for him.

He beholds them that perform lawless deeds, and he will save me: and do you plead before him, if you can praise him, as it is [possible] even now.

15 But now, because his anger hath punished nothing, shall he not greatly take cognizance of the multitude of sins?

For he is not [now] regarding his wrath, nor has he noticed severely any trespass.

16 But Job openeth wide his mouth for nought: without knowledge he heapeth up words.

Yet Job vainly opens his mouth, in ignorance he multiplies words.