Elihu Condemns Job

35 Moreover,a Elihu ⌊spoke up⌋b and said,

2 “Do you think this is justice when you say,

‘⌊I am right⌋c before God’?

3 If you ask what it profits you:

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

4 I myselfe ⌊will give answer to you⌋f

and to your friends with you.

5 “Look at the heavens, and see;

and observe the clouds that are higher than you.

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

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

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

or what does he receive from your hand?

8 Your wickedness affects a person like yourself,

and your righteousness affects humans.

9 “Because of the multitude of oppressions, they cry out;

they cry for help because of the arm of the mighty.

10 Butg no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,

who gives songs in the night,

11 who teaches us more than the animals of the earth

and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’

12 There they cry out, buth he does not answer

⌊because of the pride of evildoers⌋.i

13 “Surely God does not hear an empty plea,

and Shaddai does not regard it.

14 ⌊How much less⌋j when you say that you do not see him,

that the case is ⌊before him⌋,k and you are waiting for him!

15 Butl now, because his anger does not punish,

and he does not acknowledge the transgression at all,

16 ⌊therefore⌋m Job opens his mouth in empty talk—

without knowledge he multiplies words.”

Elihu Extols God’s Greatness

36 Thena Elihu continued and said,

2 “Bear with me a little longer, and ⌊I will explain⌋,b

for ⌊I still have something to say on God’s behalf⌋.c

3 I will bring my knowledge from far away,

and I will ascribe righteousness to my maker,

4 for truly my wordsd are not falsehood;

one who has perfect knowledge is with you.e

5 Look, God is mighty butf does not despise anyone;

he is mighty and ⌊good in understanding⌋.g

6 He does not keep the wicked alive

buth grants justice to the afflicted.

7 He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous,

buti he sets them forever with kings on the throne, and they are exalted.

8 “And if they are tied up with fetters,

if they are caught in the cords of misery,

9 thenj he declares their work to them,

and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.

10 Sok he opens their ear to the discipline,

and he commands that they return from mischief.

11 If they listen and serve him,

they complete their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness.

12 Butl if they do not listen, they perish by the sword,

and they pass away without knowledge.

13 And the godless of heart cherish anger;

they do not cry for help when he binds them.

14 ⌊They die in their youth⌋,m

and their life ends among the male shrine prostitutes.

15 He delivers the afflicted by his misery,

and he opens their ears by the adversity.

16 And what’s more, he allured you ⌊out of distress⌋n

into a broad place, where in place of it was no constraint;

and what was set on your table is full of fatness.

17 Buto you are obsessed with the judgment of the wicked;

judgment and justice take hold of you.

18 Yes,p it is wrath, so that it will not incite you into mockery;

and do not let the ransom’s greatness turn you aside.

19 Will your cry for help sustain you without distress,

orq all the efforts of your strength?

20 You must not long for the night,

to cut off people ⌊in their place⌋.r

21 Take care, you must not turn to mischief,

for because of this you have been tried by misery.

22 “Look, God is exalted in his power;

who is a teacher like him?

23 Who has prescribed his way for him?

Ors who says, ‘You have done wrong’?