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Elihu Speaks Again

35 In response, Elihu said:

“Are you saying that it’s just for you to claim,
    ‘I’m more righteous than God?’
After all, you’ve asked what your benefit will be:
    ‘What will I profit from refraining from sin?’
I’m going to respond to that statement,
    and to your friends with you.”

God’s Justice Remains Unsullied

“Observe the heavens! Take a look around!
    Look! The clouds are higher than you, aren’t they?
If you sin, what will that do to harm him?
    If you add transgression to transgression
        what will it do to him?
If you are righteous, what will you add to him?
    What can God receive from your efforts?[a]
Your wickedness affects only[b] yourself;
    and your righteousness, only human beings.[c]

“They cry out because they have many oppressors;
    they cry for help because the powerful are abusing them.[d]
10 He never asks, ‘Where is God, my Creator,
    who gives me songs in the night,
11 who teaches us more than the earth’s wild animals,
    and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’

12 “They cry out there, but he doesn’t answer
    because of the arrogance of those who practice evil.
13 Theirs is a useless plea—
    God won’t listen;
        the Almighty won’t pay any attention.
14 Even though you complain that you can’t perceive him,
    your case is already pending for judgment in his presence
        so keep on placing your hope in him.

15 “So now, if he doesn’t inflict punishment in his anger,
    then he doesn’t keep track of your many transgressions.
16 When he began speaking, he communicated only worthlessness;
    he added words upon words without knowing anything.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 35:7 Lit. hand
  2. Job 35:8 The Heb. lacks only
  3. Job 35:8 Lit. only a son of man
  4. Job 35:9 Lit. because of the arm of the powerful