Job 35

1 After this, Eliu again spoke in this way:

And Elius resumed and said,

2 Does it seem right to you in your thoughts, that you should say, “I am more just than God?”

What is this that thou thinkest to be according to right? who art thou that thou hast said, I am righteous before the Lord?

3 For you said, “Having done what is right does not please you,” and, “How will it benefit you, if I sin?”

I will answer thee, and thy three friends.

4 And so, I will respond to your words, and to your friends who are with you.

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

5 Look up towards heaven and consider; also, think about the sky, which is higher than you.

If thou hast sinned, what wilt thou do?

6 If you sin, how will it hurt him? And if your iniquities are multiplied, what will you do against him?

and if too thou hast transgressed much, what canst thou perform?

7 Furthermore, if you act justly, what will you give him, or what will he receive from your hand?

And suppose thou art righteous, what wilt thou give him? or what shall he receive of thy hand?

8 Your impiety may hurt a man who is like you, though your justice may help the son of the man.

Thy ungodliness [may affect] a man who is like to thee; or thy righteousness a son of man.

9 Because of the multitude of false accusers, they will cry out; and they will lament because of the strong arm of the tyrants.

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 Yet he has not said: “Where is God, who made me, who has given songs in the night,

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

11 who teaches us in addition to the beasts of the earth, and who educates us along with the birds of the air?”

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

12 There they will cry, and he will not heed them, because of the arrogance of the wicked.

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

13 Therefore, God does not hear in vain, and the Almighty will look into each and every case.

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

14 And so, when you say, “He does not examine,” be judged before him, but wait for him.

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

15 For, at the present time, he does not bring forth his fury, nor does he punish sin exceedingly.

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

16 Therefore, Job has opened his mouth in vain and has multiplied words without knowledge.

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