Job 35

Elihu argues that man's righteousness or wickedness does not affect God but only other men. He explains that the oppressed cry out but do not ask where God their maker is, and that God does not answer the empty cries of the proud.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Elihu spake moreover, and said,	Elihu spoke moreover and said:
2	Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?	"Do you think this to be right, that you said, 'My righteousness is more than God's'?
3	For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?	For you said, 'What advantage will it be to you? And, what profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?'
4	I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.	I will answer you, and your companions with you.
5	Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.	Look to the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than you.
6	If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?	If you sin, what do you against him? Or if your transgressions be multiplied, what do you to him?
7	If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?	If you be righteous, what give you him? Or what does he receive of your hand?
8	Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.	Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are; and your righteousness may profit the son of man.
9	By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.	By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry; they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.
10	But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;	But none says, 'Where is God my maker, who gives songs in the night,
11	Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?	who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the fowls of heaven?'
12	There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.	There they cry, but none gives answer, because of the pride of evil men.
13	Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.	Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.
14	Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.	Although You say You shall not see Him, yet judgment is before Him; therefore trust in Him.
15	But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:	But now, because it is not so, He has visited in His anger; yet He does not know it in great extremity.
16	Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.	Therefore does Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplies words without knowledge."