Job 35

1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,

Moreover Elihu continued, saying,

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

“Do you think this is just when you say, 'My 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?

For you ask, 'What use is it to me?' and, 'Would I be better off if I had sinned?'

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

I will answer you, both you and your friends.

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

Look up at the sky, and see it; see the sky, which is higher than you.

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

If you have sinned, what harm do you do to God? If your transgressions pile up high, what do you do to him?

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

If you are righteous, what can you give to him? What will he receive from your hand?

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

Your wickedness may hurt a man, as you are a man, and your righteousness might benefit another 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.

Because of many acts of oppression, people cry out; they call for help from the arms of mighty men.

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

But no one says, '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 the heavens?

who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth, and who makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'

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

There they cry out, but God gives no answer because of the pride of evil men.

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

God will certainly not hear a foolish cry; the Almighty will pay no attention to it.

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 he answer you if you say that you do not see him, that your case is before him, and that you are waiting for him!

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

Now you say that his anger does not punish, and he does not take even a litte notice of transgression.

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

So Job opens his mouth only to speak foolishness; he piles up words without knowledge.”