Job 35

1 And Elius resumed and said,

And Elihu went on to say:

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

“Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I am more righteous than God.’

3 I will answer you, and your three friends.

For you ask, ‘What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’

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

I will reply to you and to your friends as well.

5 If you have sinned, what will you do?

Look to the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you.

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

If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? If you multiply your transgressions, what do you do to Him?

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

If you are righteous, what do you give Him, or what does He receive from your hand?

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

Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself, and your righteousness only a son of man.

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

Men cry out under great oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty.

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

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

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

who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’

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

There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.

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

Surely God does not listen to empty pleas, and the Almighty does not take note of it.

14 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.

How much less, then, when you say that you do not see Him, that your case is before Him and you must wait for Him,

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

and further, that in His anger He has not punished or taken much notice of folly!

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

So Job opens his mouth in vain and multiplies words without knowledge.”