Chapter 35

Elihu Sharply Reproves Job

1 Then Elihu continued and said,

2 “Do you think this is according to ajustice?

Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?

3 “For you say, ‘aWhat advantage will it be to 1You?

bWhat profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’

4 “I will answer you,

And your friends with you.

5 “aLook at the heavens and see;

And behold bthe clouds—they are higher than you.

6 “If you have sinned, awhat do you accomplish against Him?

And if your transgressions are many, what do you do to Him?

7 “If you are righteous, awhat do you give to Him,

Or what does He receive from your hand?

8 “Your wickedness is for a man like yourself,

And your righteousness is for a son of man.

9 “Because of the amultitude of oppressions they cry out;

They cry for help because of the arm bof the mighty.

10 “But ano one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,

Who bgives songs in the night,

11 Who ateaches us more than the beasts of the earth

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

12 “There athey cry out, but He does not answer

Because of the pride of evil men.

13 “Surely aGod will not listen to 1an empty cry,

Nor will the Almighty regard it.

14 “How much less when ayou say you do not behold Him,

The bcase is before Him, and you must wait for Him!

15 “And now, because He has not visited in His anger,

Nor has He acknowledged 1transgression well,

16 So Job opens his mouth 1emptily;

He multiplies words awithout knowledge.”