Job 35
New King James Version
Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness
35 Moreover Elihu answered and said:
2 “Do you think this is right?
Do you say,
‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3 For (A)you say,
‘What advantage will it be to You?
What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’
4 “I will answer you,
And (B)your companions with you.
5 (C)Look to the heavens and see;
And behold the clouds—
They are higher than you.
6 If you sin, what do you accomplish (D)against Him?
Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?
7 (E)If you are righteous, what do you give Him?
Or what does He receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness affects a man such as you,
And your righteousness a son of man.
9 “Because(F) of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But no one says, (G)‘Where is God my Maker,
(H)Who gives songs in the night,
11 Who (I)teaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’
12 (J)There they cry out, but He does not answer,
Because of the pride of evil men.
13 (K)Surely God will not listen to empty talk,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 (L)Although you say you do not see Him,
Yet justice is before Him, and (M)you must wait for Him.
15 And now, because He has not (N)punished in His anger,
Nor taken much notice of folly,
16 (O)Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain;
He multiplies words without knowledge.”
Job 35
American Standard Version
35 Moreover Elihu answered and said,
2 Thinkest thou this to be thy right,
Or sayest thou, My righteousness is more than God’s,
3 That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee?
And, What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?
4 I will answer thee,
And thy companions with thee.
5 Look unto the heavens, and see;
And behold the skies, which are higher than thou.
6 If thou hast sinned, what effectest thou against him?
And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him?
Or what receiveth he of thy hand?
8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art;
And thy righteousness may profit a son of man.
9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.
10 But none saith, Where is God my Maker,
Who giveth songs in the night,
11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth,
And maketh us wiser than the birds of the heavens?
12 There they cry, [a]but none giveth answer,
Because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God will not hear an empty cry,
Neither will the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when thou sayest [b]thou beholdest him not,
The cause is before him, and thou waitest for him!
15 But now, because he hath not visited in his anger,
[c]Neither doth he greatly regard arrogance;
16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vanity;
He multiplieth words without knowledge.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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