1 E lihu spoke further and said,

2 D o you think this is your right, or are you saying, My righteousness is more than God’s,

3 T hat you ask, What advantage have you? How am I profited more than if I had sinned?

4 I will answer you and your companions with you.

5 L ook to the heavens and see; and behold the skies which are higher than you.

6 I f you have sinned, how does that affect God? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what have you done to Him?

7 I f you are righteous, what do you give God? Or what does He receive from your hand?

8 Y our wickedness touches and affects a man such as you are, and your righteousness is for yourself, one of the human race.

9 B ecause of the multitudes of oppressions the people cry out; they cry for help because of the violence of the mighty.

10 B ut no one says, Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs of rejoicing in the night,

11 W ho teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?

12 c ry out because of the pride of evil men, but He does not answer.

13 S urely God will refuse to answer vanity (vain and empty—instead of abiding trust); neither will the Almighty regard it—

14 H ow much less when you say that you do not see Him, that your cause is before Him, and you are waiting for Him!

15 B ut now because God has not punished in His anger and seems to be unaware of the wrong and oppression,

16 J ob uselessly opens his mouth and multiplies words without knowledge.