1 A nd Elihu answereth and saith: --

Moreover Elihu answered and said:

2 T his hast thou reckoned for judgment: Thou hast said -- `My righteousness more than God's?'

“Do you think this is right? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?

3 F or thou sayest, `What doth it profit Thee! What do I profit from my sin?'

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

4 I return thee words, and thy friends with thee,

“I will answer you, And your companions with you.

5 B ehold attentively the heavens -- and see, And behold the clouds, They have been higher than thou.

Look to the heavens and see; And behold the clouds— They are higher than you.

6 I f thou hast sinned, what dost thou against Him? And thy transgressions have been multiplied, What dost thou to Him?

If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?

7 I f thou hast been righteous, What dost thou give to Him? Or what from thy hand doth He receive?

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

8 F or a man like thyself thy wickedness, And for a son of man thy righteousness.

Your wickedness affects a man such as you, And your righteousness a son of man.

9 B ecause of the multitude of oppressions They cause to cry out, They cry because of the arm of the mighty.

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

10 A nd none said, `Where God my maker? Giving songs in the night,

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

11 T eaching us more than the beasts of the earth, Yea, than the fowl of the heavens He maketh us wiser.'

Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’

12 T here they cry, and He doth not answer, Because of the pride of evil doers.

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

13 S urely vanity God doth not hear, And the Mighty doth not behold it.

Surely God will not listen to empty talk, Nor will the Almighty regard it.

14 Y ea, though thou sayest thou dost not behold Him, Judgment before Him, and stay for Him.

Although you say you do not see Him, Yet justice is before Him, and you must wait for Him.

15 A nd, now, because there is not, He hath appointed His anger, And He hath not known in great extremity.

And now, because He has not punished in His anger, Nor taken much notice of folly,

16 A nd Job vanity doth open his mouth, Without knowledge words he multiplieth.

Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain; He multiplies words without knowledge.”