Job 35
International Children’s Bible
35 Then Elihu said:
2 “Do you think this is fair?
You say, ‘God will show that I am right.’
3 But you say to him, ‘What good is it to me?
I don’t gain anything by not sinning.’
4 “I would like to answer you.
And I want to answer your friends who are with you.
5 Look up at the sky and see.
Look at the clouds so high above you.
6 If you sin, it does nothing to God.
Even if your sins are many, they do nothing to God.
7 If you are good, you give nothing to God.
He receives nothing from your hand.
8 Your evil ways only hurt a man like yourself.
And the good you do only helps other human beings.
9 “People cry out for help when they are in trouble.
They beg for relief from powerful people.
10 But no one asks, ‘Where is God, my Maker?
He gives us songs in the night.
11 He makes us more clever than the animals of the earth.
He makes us wiser than the birds of the air.’
12 God does not answer evil people when they cry for help.
This is because they are too proud.
13 He does not listen to their useless begging.
God All-Powerful pays no attention to them.
14 He will listen to you even less
when you say you do not see him.
He will not listen when you say your case is before him
and you must wait for him.
15 He will not listen when you say his anger never punishes
and that he doesn’t notice evil.
16 So Job is only speaking useless words.
He says many words without knowing what is true.”
Job 35
Common English Bible
Sin’s impact
35 Elihu continued:
2 Do you think it right?
You say, “I’m more just than God.”
3 Yet you ask, “What does it benefit you?
What have I gained by avoiding sin?”
4 I’ll answer you,
and your friends along with you.
5 Look at the heavens and see;
scan the clouds high over you.
6 If you’ve sinned, how have you affected God?
Your offenses have multiplied;
what have you done to him?
7 If you are righteous,
what do you give to him?
Or what does he receive from your hand?
8 Your evil affects others like you,
and your righteousness affects fellow human beings.
9 People cry out because of heavy oppression;
shout under the power of the mighty.
10 But no one says, “Where is God my maker;
who gives songs in the night;
11 who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
makes us wiser than the birds in the sky?”
12 Then they cry out; but he doesn’t answer,
because of the pride of the wicked.
13 God certainly doesn’t respond to a deceitful cry;
the Almighty doesn’t pay attention to it.
14 Although you say that you don’t see him,
the case is before him;
so wait anxiously for him.
15 Even though his anger is now held back,
a person doesn’t know it’s only delayed.[a]
16 So Job mouths emptiness;
he piles up ignorant words.
Footnotes
- Job 35:15 Heb uncertain
Job 35
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness
35 And Eli′hu said:
2 “Do you think this to be just?
Do you say, ‘It is my right before God,’
3 that you ask, ‘What advantage have I?
How am I better off than if I had sinned?’
4 I will answer you
and your friends with you.
5 Look at the heavens, and see;
and behold the clouds, which 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 concerns a man like yourself,
and your righteousness a son of man.
9 “Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out;
they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
who gives songs in the night,
11 who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’
12 There they cry out, but he does not answer,
because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God does not hear an empty cry,
nor does the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when you say that you do not see him,
that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him!
15 And now, because his anger does not punish,
and he does not greatly heed transgression,[a]
16 Job opens his mouth in empty talk,
he multiplies words without knowledge.”
Footnotes
- Job 35:15 Theodotion Symmachus Compare Vg: The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.