1 Elihu said:

2 Job, are you really innocent

in the sight of God?*

3 Don't you honestly believe

it pays to obey him?

4 I will give the answers

to you and your friends.

* 5 Look up to the heavens

6 * and think!

Do your sins hurt God?

7 Is any good you may have done

at all helpful to him?

8 The evil or good you do

only affects other humans.

9 In times of trouble,

everyone begs the mighty God

to have mercy.

10 But after their Creator

helps them through hard times,

they forget about him,

11 though he makes us wiser

than animals or birds.

12 God won't listen to the prayers

of proud and evil people.

13 If God All-Powerful refuses

to answer their empty prayers,

14 he will surely deny

your impatient request

to face him in court.

15 Job, you were wrong to say

God doesn't punish sin.

16 Everything you have said

adds up to nonsense.