Job 35 AMPC

1. ELIHU SPOKE further [to Job] and said,

2. Do you think this is your right, or are you saying, My righteousness is more than God's,

3. That you ask, What advantage have you? How am I profited more than if I had sinned?

4. I will answer you and your companions with you.

5. Look to the heavens and see; and behold the skies which are higher than you.

6. If you have sinned, how does that affect God? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what have you done to Him?

7. If you are righteous, what do you [by that] give God? Or what does He receive from your hand?

8. Your wickedness touches and affects a man such as you are, and your righteousness is for yourself, one of the human race [but it cannot touch God, Who is above such influence].

9. Because of the multitudes of oppressions the people cry out; they cry for help because of the violence of the mighty.

10. But no one says, Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs of rejoicing in the night, [Acts 16:25.]

11. Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?

12. [The people] cry out because of the pride of evil men, but He does not answer.

13. Surely God will refuse to answer [the cry which is] vanity (vain and empty–instead of abiding trust); neither will the Almighty regard it–

14. How much less when [missing His righteous judgment on earth] you say that you do not see Him, that your cause is before Him, and you are waiting for Him!

15. But now because God has not [speedily] punished in His anger and seems to be unaware of the wrong and oppression [of which a person is guilty],

16. Job uselessly opens his mouth and multiplies words without knowledge [drawing the worthless conclusion that the righteous have no more advantage than the wicked].