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 Elihu proceeded in his reasoning and said,

2 Dost thou think this to be right, [when] thou didst say, I am more righteous than God?

3 For thou didst say, What advantage will it be unto thee? [And], What profit shall I have, [if] I am cleansed] from my sin?

4 I will answer thee and thy companions with thee.

5 Look unto the heavens and see; and behold the heavens [which] are higher than thou.

6 If thou dost sin, what hast thou done against him? Or [if] thy rebellion is multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

7 If thou art righteous, what shalt thou give him? Or what shall he receive of thine hand?

8 Thy wickedness [shall hurt] a man as thou [art]; and thy righteousness [shall profit] the son of man.

9 By reason of the great violence they shall call out; they cry out because of the strength of the many.

10 But no one shall say, Where [is] God my maker, who gives songs in the night;

11 who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

12 There they shall cry, but he shall give no answer because of the pride of those that are evil.

13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty look upon it.

14 For much that thou dost say, he will not look upon it, [submit to] judgment before him, and trust thou in him.

15 But now, because he has not visited in wrath; nor is it known in great extremity;

16 therefore, Job opened his mouth in vain and multiplied words without knowledge.: