1 T hen Elihu continued and said,

Then Elihu said,

2 “ Do you think this is according to justice? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?

“Do you think this is right? Do you say, ‘I am more right than God’?

3 “ For you say, ‘ What advantage will it be to You? What profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’

For you ask, ‘What will You get by it? How will it be better for me than if I had sinned?’

4 “ I will answer you, And your friends with you.

I will answer you, and your friends with you.

5 “ Look at the heavens and see; And behold the clouds—they are higher than you.

Look at the heavens and see. See the clouds which are higher than you.

6 “ If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him? And if your transgressions are many, what do you do to Him?

If you have sinned, what does that do to God? If you have done many wrongs, what does that do to Him?

7 “ If you are righteous, what do you give to Him, Or what does He receive from your hand?

If you are right and good, what do you give to Him? What does He receive from you?

8 “ Your wickedness is for a man like yourself, And your righteousness is for a son of man.

Your wrong-doing may hurt another man and your being right and good may help him.

9 “ Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help because of the arm of the mighty.

“People cry out because of their many hard times. They cry for help because of the arm of the powerful.

10 “ But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night,

But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs 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?’

Who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’

12 “ There they cry out, but He does not answer Because of the pride of evil men.

There they cry out, but He does not answer because of the pride of sinful men.

13 “ Surely God will not listen to an empty cry, Nor will the Almighty regard it.

For sure God will not listen to an empty cry. The All-powerful will not do anything about it.

14 “ How much less when you say you do not behold Him, The case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!

How much less when you say you do not see Him, that your trial is before Him, and you must wait for Him!

15 “ And now, because He has not visited in His anger, Nor has He acknowledged transgression well,

And now, because God has not punished in His anger, and does not watch for sin,

16 S o Job opens his mouth emptily; He multiplies words without knowledge.”

Job opens his mouth with empty talk. He speaks many words without much learning.”