Job 35

1 Moreover Elihu, responded and said: —

Then Elihu continued, saying,

2 This, dost thou think to be right? Thou hast said—My righteousness is more than GOD’S.

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

3 For thou dost say, How can one profit by thee? How can I benefit, more than by my sin?

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

4 I, will answer thee plainly, and thy friends with thee.

I'll tell you, and your friends too!

5 Look at the heavens and see, —and survey the skies—they are higher than thou.

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

6 If thou sinnest, what canst thou work against him? Or, if thy transgressions be multiplied, what canst thou do unto him?

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

7 If thou art righteous, what canst thou give unto him? Or what, at thy hand, can he accept?

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

8 Unto a man like thyself, might thy lawlessness [reach], and, unto a son of the earth-born, thy righteousness.

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, [men] make outcry, 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 saith—Where is GOD my maker, Who giveth songs in the night;

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

11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and, beyond the bird of the heavens, giveth us wisdom?

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

12 There, [men] make outcry, and he answereth not, because of the arrogance of evil-doers.

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

13 Howbeit, vanity, will GOD not hear, Yea, the Almighty, will not regard it.

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

14 How much less when thou sayest thou wilt not regard him! The cause, is before him, and thou must 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 it is not so, [thou sayest] —His anger hath punished, and yet hath he not at all known of transgression;

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

16 Thus, Job, vainly openeth his mouth, Without knowledge, he multiplieth words.

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