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Job 35
New International Version
Job 35
New International Version
35 Then Elihu said:
2 “Do you think this is just?
You say, ‘I am in the right,(A) not God.’(B)
3 Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,[a]
and what do I gain by not sinning?’(C)
4 “I would like to reply to you
and to your friends with you.
5 Look up at the heavens(D) and see;
gaze at the clouds so high above you.(E)
6 If you sin, how does that affect him?
If your sins are many, what does that do to him?(F)
7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him,(G)
or what does he receive(H) from your hand?(I)
8 Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,(J)
and your righteousness only other people.(K)
9 “People cry out(L) under a load of oppression;(M)
they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.(N)
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,(O)
who gives songs(P) in the night,(Q)
11 who teaches(R) us(S) more than he teaches[b] the beasts of the earth
and makes us wiser than[c] the birds in the sky?’
12 He does not answer(T) when people cry out
because of the arrogance(U) of the wicked.(V)
13 Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;
the Almighty pays no attention to it.(W)
14 How much less, then, will he listen
when you say that you do not see him,(X)
that your case(Y) is before him
and you must wait for him,(Z)
15 and further, that his anger never punishes(AA)
and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.[d](AB)
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;(AC)
without knowledge he multiplies words.”(AD)
Job 35
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Job 35
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness
35 Elihu continued and said:
2 “Do you think this to be just?
You say, ‘I am in the right before God.’(A)
3 If you ask, ‘What advantage have I?
How am I better off than if I had sinned?’(B)
4 I will answer you
and your friends with you.
5 Look at the heavens and see;
observe the clouds, which are higher than you.(C)
6 If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him?
And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?(D)
7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him,
or what does he receive from your hand?(E)
8 Your wickedness affects others like you,
and your righteousness, other human beings.
9 “Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out;
they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.(F)
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
who gives strength in the night,(G)
11 who teaches us more than the animals of the earth
and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’(H)
12 There they cry out, but he does not answer,
because of the pride of evildoers.(I)
13 Surely God does not hear an empty cry,
nor does the Almighty[a] regard it.(J)
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!(K)
15 And now, because his anger does not punish
and he does not greatly heed transgression,[b](L)
16 Job opens his mouth in empty talk;
he multiplies words without knowledge.”(M)
Job 35
New American Standard Bible
Job 35
New American Standard Bible
Elihu Sharply Rebukes Job
35 Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Do you think this is in accordance with (A)justice?
Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3 For you say, ‘(B)What advantage will it be to [a]You?
(C)What benefit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’
4 I will answer you,
And your friends with you.
5 (D)Look at the heavens and see;
And look at (E)the clouds—they are higher than you.
6 If you have sinned, (F)what do you accomplish against Him?
And if your wrongdoings are many, what do you do to Him?
7 If you are righteous, (G)what do you give to Him,
Or what does He receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness is for a man like yourself,
And your righteousness is for a son of man.
9 “Because of the (H)multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry for help because of the arm (I)of the mighty.
10 But (J)no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who (K)gives songs in the night,
11 Who (L)teaches us more than the animals of the earth
And makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’
12 There (M)they cry out, but He does not answer
Because of the pride of evil people.
13 (N)God certainly will not listen to [b]an empty cry,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when (O)you say you do not look at Him,
The (P)case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!
15 And now, because He has not avenged His anger,
Nor has He acknowledged [c]wrongdoing well,
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty words;
He multiplies words (Q)without knowledge.”
Job 35
Common English Bible
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
New Living Translation
Job 35
New Living Translation
Elihu Reminds Job of God’s Justice
35 Then Elihu said:
2 “Do you think it is right for you to claim,
‘I am righteous before God’?
3 For you also ask, ‘What’s in it for me?
What’s the use of living a righteous life?’
4 “I will answer you
and all your friends, too.
5 Look up into the sky,
and see the clouds high above you.
6 If you sin, how does that affect God?
Even if you sin again and again,
what effect will it have on him?
7 If you are good, is this some great gift to him?
What could you possibly give him?
8 No, your sins affect only people like yourself,
and your good deeds also affect only humans.
9 “People cry out when they are oppressed.
They groan beneath the power of the mighty.
10 Yet they don’t ask, ‘Where is God my Creator,
the one who gives songs in the night?
11 Where is the one who makes us smarter than the animals
and wiser than the birds of the sky?’
12 And when they cry out, God does not answer
because of their pride.
13 But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen,
to say the Almighty isn’t concerned.
14 You say you can’t see him,
but he will bring justice if you will only wait.[a]
15 You say he does not respond to sinners with anger
and is not greatly concerned about wickedness.[b]
16 But you are talking nonsense, Job.
You have spoken like a fool.”
Footnotes
- 35:13-14 These verses can also be translated as follows: 13 Indeed, God doesn’t listen to their empty plea; / the Almighty is not concerned. / 14 How much less will he listen when you say you don’t see him, / and that your case is before him and you’re waiting for justice.
- 35:15 As in Greek and Latin versions; the meaning of this Hebrew word is uncertain.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.