Elihu Reminds Job of God's Justice
1Elihu spake moreover, and said,
2Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?
3For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?
4I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.
5Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.
6If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
7If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?
8Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.
9By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.
10But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;
11Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?
12There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.
13Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.
14Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.
15But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:
16Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Elihu Recalls God’s Justice
1 Moreover Elihu answered,
2 “Do you think this to be your right, or do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s,’
3 That you ask, ‘What advantage will it be to you? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’
4 I will answer you, and your companions with you.
5 Look to the heavens, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.
6 If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him? If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
7 If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are, and your 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 says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,
11 who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’
12 There they cry, but none gives 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 you say you don’t see him. The cause is before him, and you wait for him!
15 But now, because he has not visited in his anger, neither does he greatly regard arrogance.
16 Therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, and he multiplies words without knowledge.”
Elihu Recalls God’s Justice
1 And Elihu went on to say:
2 “Do you think this is just?
You say, ‘I am more righteous than God.’ a
3 For you ask, ‘What does it profit me,
and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’
4 I will reply to you
and to your friends as well.
5 Look to the heavens and see;
gaze at the clouds high above you.
6 If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him?
If you multiply your transgressions, what do you do to Him?
7 If you are righteous, what do you give Him,
or what does He receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself,
and your righteousness only a son of man.
9 Men cry out under great oppression;
they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty.
10 But no one asks, ‘Where is God my Maker,
who gives us songs in the night,
11 who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth
and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’
12 There they cry out, but He does not answer,
because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God does not listen to empty pleas,
and the Almighty does not take note of it.
14 How much less, then, when you say that you do not see Him,
that your case is before Him and you must wait for Him,
15 and further, that in His anger He has not punished
or taken much notice of folly!
16 So Job opens his mouth in vain
and multiplies words without knowledge.”
Footnotes:
2 a Or ‘I am righteous before God.’
Elihu Reminds Job of God's Justice
1And Elihu answereth and saith: --
2This hast thou reckoned for judgment: Thou hast said -- 'My righteousness is more than God's?'
3For thou sayest, 'What doth it profit Thee! What do I profit from my sin?'
4I return thee words, and thy friends with thee,
5Behold attentively the heavens -- and see, And behold the clouds, They have been higher than thou.
6If thou hast sinned, what dost thou against Him? And thy transgressions have been multiplied, What dost thou to Him?
7If thou hast been righteous, What dost thou give to Him? Or what from thy hand doth He receive?
8For a man like thyself is thy wickedness, And for a son of man thy righteousness.
9Because of the multitude of oppressions They cause to cry out, They cry because of the arm of the mighty.
10And none said, 'Where is God my maker? Giving songs in the night,
11Teaching us more than the beasts of the earth, Yea, than the fowl of the heavens He maketh us wiser.'
12There they cry, and He doth not answer, Because of the pride of evil doers.
13Surely vanity God doth not hear, And the Mighty doth not behold it.
14Yea, though thou sayest thou dost not behold Him, Judgment is before Him, and stay for Him.
15And, now, because there is not, He hath appointed His anger, And He hath not known in great extremity.
16And Job with vanity doth open his mouth, Without knowledge words he multiplieth.
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