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 will I have, more than if I had sinned?’

4 I will answer you,

and your companions with you.

5 Look to the skies, 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 no one 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 no one answers,

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."

1 Verder het El¡hu aangehef en gesê:

2 Hou u dit vir reg, noem u dit: my geregtigheid voor God,

3 dat u vra wat dit u baat? Wat help dit my meer as wanneer ek sou sondig?

4 k sal u antwoord gee en aan u vriende saam met u.

5 Kyk op na die hemel en sien, en aanskou die wolke wat hoog bo u is.

6 As u sondig, watter skade is dit vir Hom? En is u oortredinge baie, wat kan u Hom daarmee aandoen?

7 As u regverdig is, wat gee u aan Hom? Of wat kan Hy uit u hand aanneem?

8 U goddeloosheid raak net 'n mens soos u, en u geregtigheid 'n mensekind.

9 Vanweë die menigte van verdrukkinge skreeu hulle; hulle roep om hulp oor die geweld van die grotes.

10 Maar niemand sê nie: Waar is God, my Maker, wat lofsange gee in die nag,

11 wat ons meer leer as aan die diere van die aarde en ons wyser maak as die voëls van die hemel?

12 Dan roep hulle, maar Hy antwoord nie, vanweë die trotsheid van die kwaaddoeners.

13 Sekerlik, na nietige klagte luister God nie, en die Almagtige slaan daar geen ag op nie.

14 Hoeveel minder as u sê u sien Hom nie! Die regsaak is voor Hom: wag dan op Hom.

15 Maar nou, omdat sy toorn nie straf nie, en Hy nie grootliks ag gee op oormoed nie,

16 maak Job sy mond wyd oop in nietige gepraat, vermenigvuldig hy woorde sonder kennis.