Job 35

1 Moreover Elihu answered,

Then Elihu continued, saying,

2 "Do you think this to be your right, or do you say, 'My righteousness is more than God's,'

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

3 That you ask, 'What advantage will it be to you? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?'

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

4 I will answer you, and your companions with you.

I'll tell you, and your friends too!

5 Look to the heavens, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.

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

6 If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him? If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?

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

7 If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he receive from your hand?

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

8 Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are, and your righteousness may profit a son of man.

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

9 "By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out. They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.

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

10 But none says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives 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 more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'

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

12 There they cry, but none gives answer, because of the pride of evil men.

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

13 Surely God will not hear an empty cry, neither will Shaddai regard it.

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

14 How much less when you say you do not see him. The cause is before him, and you 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 But now, because he has not visited in his anger, neither does he greatly regard arrogance.

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

16 Therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, and he multiplies words without knowledge."

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