1Elihu continued,2‘Job, do you think it’s fair for you to say, “I am the one who is right, not God”?3You ask him, “What good is it for me not to sin? What do I get by not sinning?”4‘I’d like to reply to you and to your friends who are with you.5Look up at the heavens. Observe the clouds that are high above you.6If you sin, what does that mean to God? If you sin many times, what does that do to him?7If you do what is right, how does that help him? What does he get from you?8The evil things you do only hurt people like yourself. The right things you do only help other human beings.9‘People cry out when they are treated badly. They beg to be set free from the power of those who are over them.10But no one says, “Where is the God who made me? He gives us songs even during the night.11He teaches us more than he teaches the wild animals. He makes us wiser than the birds in the sky.”12He doesn’t answer sinful people when they cry out to him. That’s because they are so proud.13In fact, God doesn’t listen to their empty cries. The Mighty One doesn’t pay any attention to them.14So he certainly won’t listen to you. When you say you don’t see him, he won’t hear you. He won’t listen when you state your case to him. He won’t pay attention even if you wait for him.15When you say his anger never punishes sin, he won’t hear you. He won’t listen when you say he doesn’t pay any attention to evil.16So you say things that don’t mean anything. You use a lot of words, but you don’t know what you are talking about.’
Job 35
English Standard Version
Elihu Condemns Job
1And Elihu answered and said:2“Do you think this to be just? Do you say, ‘It is my right before God,’ (Job 32:2)3that you ask, ‘What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?’ (Job 34:9)4I will answer you and your friends with you. (Job 34:8; Job 34:36)5Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you. (Job 22:12)6If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? (Pr 8:36; Jer 7:19)7If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand? (Job 22:2; Job 41:11; Pr 9:12; Lu 17:10; Ro 11:35)8Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man. (Job 25:6)9“Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.[1] (Ex 2:23; Job 22:8; Job 34:28; Am 3:9)10But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, (De 32:6; Job 4:17; Ps 42:8; Ps 77:6; Ps 149:5; Ac 16:25)11who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’ (Job 36:22; Ps 94:12; Isa 28:26)12There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evil men. (Job 27:9)13Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it.14How much less when you say that you do not see him, that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him! (Job 9:11; Job 13:15; Job 23:8)15And now, because his anger does not punish, and he does not take much note of transgression,[2] (Nu 16:29; Ps 89:32)16Job opens his mouth in empty talk; he multiplies words without knowledge.” (Job 34:35; Job 34:37; Job 36:12; Job 38:2; Job 42:3)