from Biblica1Then Elihu said:2‘Do you think this is just? You say, “I am in the right, not God.”3Yet you ask him, “What profit is it to me,[1] and what do I gain by not sinning?”4‘I would like to reply to you and to your friends with you.5Look up at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you.6If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him?7If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand?8Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself, and your righteousness only other people.9‘People cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.10But no-one says, “Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,11who teaches us more than he teaches[2] the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than[3] the birds in the sky?”12He does not answer when people cry out because of the arrogance of the wicked.13Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea; the Almighty pays no attention to it.14How much less, then, will he listen when you say that you do not see him, that your case is before him and you must wait for him,15and further, that his anger never punishes and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.[4]16So Job opens his mouth with empty talk; without knowledge he multiplies words.’
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)