Job 35

1 After this, Eliu again spoke in this way:

Moreover 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 this is just when you say, 'My 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?”

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

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

I will answer you, both you and your friends.

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

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

6 If you sin, how will it hurt him? And if your iniquities are multiplied, what will you do against 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 Furthermore, if you act justly, what will you give him, or what will he receive from your hand?

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

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

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

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

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

But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, 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 he teaches the beasts of the earth, and who makes us wiser than 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 cry out, but God gives no answer because of the pride of evil men.

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

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

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

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

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

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