Job 35

1Moreover Elihu answered and said,

1Then Elihu continued and said:

2Thinkest thou this to be thy right, Or sayest thou, My righteousness is more than God’s,

2Do you really think this is right? Do you say, 'I am more righteous than God'?

3That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? And, What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?

3For you ask, 'What benefit is it to me? What do I gain by not sinning?'

4I will answer thee, And thy companions with thee.

4I will answer you, and your friends along with you.

5Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the skies, which are higher than thou.

5Look up at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you.

6If thou hast sinned, what effectest thou against him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

6If you sin, how does that affect God? If your sins are many, what does it do to him?

7If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or what receiveth he of thy hand?

7If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand?

8Thy wickednessmay hurta man as thou art; And thy righteousness may profit a son of man.

8Your wickedness only affects people like yourself, and your righteousness only benefits other human beings.

9By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.

9People cry out because of great oppression; they call for help because of the power of the mighty.

10But none saith, Where is God my Maker, Who giveth songs in the night,

10But no one asks, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives us songs in the night,'

11Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, And maketh us wiser than the birds of the heavens?

11'who teaches us more than the animals of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'

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

12They cry out there, but he does not answer because of the pride of evil people.

13Surely God will not hear an emptycry, Neither will the Almighty regard it.

13Surely God does not listen to empty cries; the Almighty pays no attention to them.

14How much less when thou sayest thou beholdest him not, The cause is before him, and thou waitest for him!

14How much less, then, when you say you do not see him, that your case is before him and you are waiting for him!

15But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, Neither doth he greatly regard arrogance;

15And further, because his anger does not punish and he does not seem to notice pride,

16Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vanity; He multiplieth words without knowledge.

16Job opens his mouth with empty talk; he speaks many words without real knowledge.