Job 35:2–8

“Do you think this to be just?

Do you say, ‘It is my right before God,’

that you ask, ‘What advantage have I?

How am I better off than if I had sinned?’

I will answer you

and your friends with you.

Look at the heavens, and see;

and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.

If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him?

And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?

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 a son of man.

“Do you think this is just?

You say, ‘I am in the right, not God.’

Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,

and what do I gain by not sinning?’

“I would like to reply to you

and to your friends with you.

Look up at the heavens and see;

gaze at the clouds so high above you.

If you sin, how does that affect him?

If your sins are many, what does that do to him?

If you are righteous, what do you give to him,

or what does he receive from your hand?

Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,

and your righteousness only other people.

“Do you think it is right for you to claim,

‘I am righteous before God’?

For you also ask, ‘What’s in it for me?

What’s the use of living a righteous life?’

“I will answer you

and all your friends, too.

Look up into the sky,

and see the clouds high above you.

If you sin, how does that affect God?

Even if you sin again and again,

what effect will it have on him?

If you are good, is this some great gift to him?

What could you possibly give him?

No, your sins affect only people like yourself,

and your good deeds also affect only humans.

“Do you think this is justice when you say,

‘I am right before God’?

If you ask what it profits you:

‘How do I benefit by refraining from my sin?’

I myself will give answer to you

and to your friends with you.

“Look at the heavens, and see;

and observe the clouds that are higher than you.

If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him?

And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?

If you are righteous, what do you give to him,

or what does he receive from your hand?

Your wickedness affects a person like yourself,

and your righteousness affects humans.

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.