Job 35

1 Moreover Elihu, responded and said: —

Moreover Elihu answered,

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

“Do you think this to be your right, or do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s,’

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

that you ask, ‘What advantage will it be to you? What profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’

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

I will answer you, and your companions with you.

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

Look to the skies, and see. See the skies, which are higher than 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 have sinned, what effect do you have against him? If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?

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

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

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

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

9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions, [men] make outcry, They cry for help, by reason of the arm of the mighty;

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

10 But none saith—Where is GOD my maker, Who giveth songs in the night;

But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, 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 of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’

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

There they cry, but no one answers, because of the pride of evil men.

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

Surely God will not hear an empty cry, neither will the Almighty regard it.

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 when you say you don’t see him. The cause is before him, and you 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;

But now, because he has not visited in his anger, neither does he greatly regard arrogance,

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

therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, and he multiplies words without knowledge.”