Job 35:9–16

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^35:9“People¹³ cry out

because of the excess of oppression;¹⁴

they cry out for help

because of the power¹⁵ of the mighty.¹⁶

^35:10But no one says, ‘Where is God, my Creator,

who gives songs in the night,¹⁷

^35:11who teaches us¹⁸ more than¹⁹ the wild animals of the earth,

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

^35:12Then²⁰ they cry out—but he does not answer—

because of the arrogance of the wicked.

^35:13Surely it is an empty cry²¹—God does not hear it;

the Almighty does not take notice of it.

^35:14How much less, then,

when you say that you do not perceive him,

that the case is before him

and you are waiting for him!²²

^35:15And further,²³ when you say

that his anger does not punish,²⁴

and that he does not know transgression!²⁵

^35:16So Job opens his mouth to no purpose;²⁶

without knowledge he multiplies words.”

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Footnotes

13 The word “people” is supplied, because the sentence only has the masculine plural verb.
14 The final noun is an abstract plural, “oppression.” There is no reason to change it to “oppressors” to fit the early versions. The expression is literally “multitude of oppression.”
15 Heb “the arm,” a metaphor for strength or power.
16 Or “of the many” (see I רַב 6.a).
17 There have been several attempts to emend the line, none of which are particularly helpful or interesting. H. H. Rowley (Job [], 225) says, “It is a pity to rob Elihu of a poetic line when he creates one.”
18 The form in the text, the Piel participle from אָלַף (’alaf, “teach”) is written in a contracted form; the full form is מְאַלְּפֵנוּ (mé’alléfenu).
19 Some would render this “teaches us by the beasts.” But Elihu is stressing the unique privilege humans have.
20 The adverb שָׁם (sham, “there”) connects this verse to v. 11. “There” can be locative or temporal—and here it is temporal (= “then”).
21 Heb “surely—vanity, he does not hear.” The cry is an empty cry, not a prayer to God. Dhorme translates it, “It is a pure waste of words.”
22 The point is that if God does not listen to those who do not turn to him, how much less likely is he to turn to one who complains against him.
23 The expression “and now” introduces a new complaint of Elihu—in addition to the preceding. Here the verb of v. 14, “you say,” is understood after the temporal ki (כִּי).
24 The verb פָקַד (paqad) means “to visit” (also “to appoint; to muster; to number”). When God visits, it means that he intervenes in one’s life for blessing or cursing (punishing, destroying).
25 The word פַּשׁ (pash) is a . K&D 12:275 derived it from an Arabic word meaning “belch,” leading to the idea of “overflow.” 832 defines it as “folly.” Several define it as “transgression” on the basis of the versions (Theodotion, Symmachus, ). The took it as “greatly heed,” but that is not exactly “greatly know,” when the text beyond that requires “not know at all.” The has “he does not take the least notice of wickedness.”
26 The word הֶבֶל (hevel) means “vanity; futility; to no purpose.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out;

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

But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker,

who gives songs in the night,

who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth

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

There they cry out, but he does not answer,

because of the pride of evil men.

Surely God does not hear an empty cry,

nor does the Almighty regard it.

How much less when you say that you do not see him,

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

And now, because his anger does not punish,

and he does not take much note of transgression,

Job opens his mouth in empty talk;

he multiplies words without knowledge.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“People cry out under a load of oppression;

they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.

But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,

who gives songs in the night,

who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth

and makes us wiser than the birds in the sky?’

He does not answer when people cry out

because of the arrogance of the wicked.

Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;

the Almighty pays no attention to it.

How much less, then, will he listen

when you say that you do not see him,

that your case is before him

and you must wait for him,

and further, that his anger never punishes

and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.

So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;

without knowledge he multiplies words.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

People cry out because of severe oppression;

they shout for help because of the power of the mighty.

But no one asks, “Where is God my Maker,

who provides us with songs in the night,

who gives us more understanding than the animals of the earth

and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?”

There they cry out, but he does not answer,

because of the pride of evil people.

Indeed, God does not listen to empty cries,

and the Almighty does not take note of it—

how much less when you complain

that you do not see him,

that your case is before him

and you are waiting for him.

But now, because God’s anger does not punish

and he does not pay attention to transgression,

Job opens his mouth in vain

and multiplies words without knowledge.

NLTNew Living Translation

“People cry out when they are oppressed.

They groan beneath the power of the mighty.

Yet they don’t ask, ‘Where is God my Creator,

the one who gives songs in the night?

Where is the one who makes us smarter than the animals

and wiser than the birds of the sky?’

And when they cry out, God does not answer

because of their pride.

But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen,

to say the Almighty isn’t concerned.

You say you can’t see him,

but he will bring justice if you will only wait.

You say he does not respond to sinners with anger

and is not greatly concerned about wickedness.

But you are talking nonsense, Job.

You have spoken like a fool.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

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

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

But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,

who gives songs in the night,

who teaches us more than the animals of the earth

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

There they cry out, but he does not answer

because of the pride of evildoers.

“Surely God does not hear an empty plea,

and Shaddai does not regard it.

How much less when you say that you do not see him,

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

But now, because his anger does not punish,

and he does not acknowledge the transgression at all,

therefore Job opens his mouth in empty talk—

without knowledge he multiplies words.”

KJV 1900King James Version

By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry:

They cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.

But none saith, Where is God my maker,

Who giveth songs in the night;

Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth,

And maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

There they cry, but none giveth answer,

Because of the pride of evil men.

Surely God will not hear vanity,

Neither will the Almighty regard it.

Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him,

Yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.

But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger;

Yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:

Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain;

He multiplieth words without knowledge.

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