Add parallel Print Page Options

Elihu Speaks Again

35 In response, Elihu said:

“Are you saying that it’s just for you to claim,
    ‘I’m more righteous than God?’
After all, you’ve asked what your benefit will be:
    ‘What will I profit from refraining from sin?’
I’m going to respond to that statement,
    and to your friends with you.”

God’s Justice Remains Unsullied

“Observe the heavens! Take a look around!
    Look! The clouds are higher than you, aren’t they?
If you sin, what will that do to harm him?
    If you add transgression to transgression
        what will it do to him?
If you are righteous, what will you add to him?
    What can God receive from your efforts?[a]
Your wickedness affects only[b] yourself;
    and your righteousness, only human beings.[c]

“They cry out because they have many oppressors;
    they cry for help because the powerful are abusing them.[d]
10 He never asks, ‘Where is God, my Creator,
    who gives me songs in the night,
11 who teaches us more than the earth’s wild animals,
    and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’

12 “They cry out there, but he doesn’t answer
    because of the arrogance of those who practice evil.
13 Theirs is a useless plea—
    God won’t listen;
        the Almighty won’t pay any attention.
14 Even though you complain that you can’t perceive him,
    your case is already pending for judgment in his presence
        so keep on placing your hope in him.

15 “So now, if he doesn’t inflict punishment in his anger,
    then he doesn’t keep track of your many transgressions.
16 When he began speaking, he communicated only worthlessness;
    he added words upon words without knowing anything.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 35:7 Lit. hand
  2. Job 35:8 The Heb. lacks only
  3. Job 35:8 Lit. only a son of man
  4. Job 35:9 Lit. because of the arm of the powerful

35 Then Elihu said:

“Do you think this is just?
    You say, ‘I am in the right,(A) not God.’(B)
Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,[a]
    and what do I gain by not sinning?’(C)

“I would like to reply to you
    and to your friends with you.
Look up at the heavens(D) and see;
    gaze at the clouds so high above you.(E)
If you sin, how does that affect him?
    If your sins are many, what does that do to him?(F)
If you are righteous, what do you give to him,(G)
    or what does he receive(H) from your hand?(I)
Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,(J)
    and your righteousness only other people.(K)

“People cry out(L) under a load of oppression;(M)
    they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.(N)
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,(O)
    who gives songs(P) in the night,(Q)
11 who teaches(R) us(S) more than he teaches[b] the beasts of the earth
    and makes us wiser than[c] the birds in the sky?’
12 He does not answer(T) when people cry out
    because of the arrogance(U) of the wicked.(V)
13 Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;
    the Almighty pays no attention to it.(W)
14 How much less, then, will he listen
    when you say that you do not see him,(X)
that your case(Y) is before him
    and you must wait for him,(Z)
15 and further, that his anger never punishes(AA)
    and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.[d](AB)
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;(AC)
    without knowledge he multiplies words.”(AD)

Footnotes

  1. Job 35:3 Or you
  2. Job 35:11 Or night, / 11 who teaches us by
  3. Job 35:11 Or us wise by
  4. Job 35:15 Symmachus, Theodotion and Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.

35 Elihu spake moreover, and said,

Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?

For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.

Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.

If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?

Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.

10 But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

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

13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.

15 But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:

16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.