Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness

35 Moreover Elihu answered and said:

“Do you think this is right?
Do you say,
‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
For (A)you say,
‘What advantage will it be to You?
What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’

“I will answer you,
And (B)your companions with you.
(C)Look to the heavens and see;
And behold the clouds—
They are higher than you.
If you sin, what do you accomplish (D)against Him?
Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?
(E)If you are righteous, what do you give Him?
Or what does He receive from your hand?
Your wickedness affects a man such as you,
And your righteousness a son of man.

“Because(F) of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But no one says, (G)‘Where is God my Maker,
(H)Who gives songs in the night,
11 Who (I)teaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’
12 (J)There they cry out, but He does not answer,
Because of the pride of evil men.
13 (K)Surely God will not listen to empty talk,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 (L)Although you say you do not see Him,
Yet justice is before Him, and (M)you must wait for Him.
15 And now, because He has not (N)punished in His anger,
Nor taken much notice of folly,
16 (O)Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain;
He multiplies words without knowledge.”

Elihu Condemns Job

35 And Elihu answered and said:

“Do you think this to be just?
    Do you say, (A)‘It is my right before God,’
that you ask, (B)‘What advantage have I?
    How am I better off than if I had sinned?’
I will answer you
    and (C)your friends with you.
(D)Look at the heavens, and see;
    and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.
If you have sinned, (E)what do you accomplish against him?
    And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
(F)If you are righteous, what do you give to him?
    Or what does he receive from your hand?
Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself,
    and your righteousness (G)a son of man.

“Because of the multitude of (H)oppressions people (I)cry out;
    they call for help because of the arm of (J)the mighty.[a]
10 But none says, ‘Where is God my (K)Maker,
    who gives (L)songs in the night,
11 who teaches us (M)more than the beasts of the earth
    and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’
12 There they (N)cry out, but he does not answer,
    because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God does not hear an empty cry,
    nor does the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when you say that you (O)do not see him,
    that the case is before him, and you are (P)waiting for him!
15 And now, because (Q)his anger does not punish,
    and he does not take much note of transgression,[b]
16 Job opens his mouth in empty talk;
    he (R)multiplies words (S)without knowledge.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 35:9 Or the many
  2. Job 35:15 Theodotion, Symmachus (compare Vulgate); the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain