Elihu’s Third Speech64

35:1 Then Elihu answered:

35:2 “Do you think this to be1 just:

when2 you say, ‘My right before God.’3

35:3 But you say, ‘What will it profit you,’4

and, ‘What do I gain by not sinning?’5

35:4 I6 will reply to you,7

and to your friends with you.

35:5 Gaze at the heavens and see;

consider the clouds, which are higher than you!8

35:6 If you sin, how does it affect God?9

If your transgressions are many,

what does it do to him?10

35:7 If you are righteous, what do you give to God,

or what does he receive from your hand?

35:8 Your wickedness affects only11 a person like yourself,

and your righteousness only other people.12

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

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

who gives songs in the night,17

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

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

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

because of the arrogance of the wicked.

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

the Almighty does not take notice of it.

35:14 How 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

35:15 And further,23 when you say

that his anger does not punish,24

and that he does not know transgression!25

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

without knowledge he multiplies words.”