Job 35

1 After this, Eliu again spoke in this way:

Then Elihu continued, saying,

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

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

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

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

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

I'll tell you, and your friends too!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14 And so, when you say, “He does not examine,” be judged before him, but wait 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 For, at the present time, he does not bring forth his fury, nor does he punish sin exceedingly.

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

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

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