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 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 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.
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.
