Job 35:1-10 - Compare All Versions

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Then Elihu said: “Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I am in the right, not God.’ Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me, and what do I gain by not sinning?’ “I would like to reply to you and to your friends with you. Look up at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you. If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him? If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand? Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself, and your righteousness only other people. “People cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful. But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night

And Elihu answered and said: “Do you think this to be just? Do you say, ‘It is my right before God,’ that you ask, ‘What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?’ I will answer you and your friends with you. Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you. If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand? Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man. “Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty. But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night

Then Elihu said: “Do you think it is right for you to claim, ‘I am righteous before God’? For you also ask, ‘What’s in it for me? What’s the use of living a righteous life?’ “I will answer you and all your friends, too. Look up into the sky, and see the clouds high above you. If you sin, how does that affect God? Even if you sin again and again, what effect will it have on him? If you are good, is this some great gift to him? What could you possibly give him? No, your sins affect only people like yourself, and your good deeds also affect only humans. “People cry out when they are oppressed. They groan beneath the power of the mighty. Yet they don’t ask, ‘Where is God my Creator, the one who gives songs in the night?

Then Elihu continued, saying: Do you think it is just when you say, “I am righteous before God”? For you ask, “What does it profit you,  and what benefit comes to me, if I do not sin? ”  I will answer you and your friends with you. Look at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you. If you sin, how does it affect God? If you multiply your transgressions, what does it do to him? If you are righteous, what do you give him, or what does he receive from your hand?  Your wickedness affects a person like yourself, and your righteousness, a son of man.  People cry out because of severe oppression; they shout for help because of the power of the mighty.  But no one asks, “Where is God my Maker,  who provides us with songs in the night

Elihu spake moreover, and said, Thinkest thou this to be right, That thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's? For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? And, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin? I will answer thee, And thy companions with thee. Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the clouds which are higher than thou. If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? Or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or what receiveth he of thine hand? Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; And thy righteousness may profit the son of man. By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: They cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. But none saith, Where is God my maker, Who giveth songs in the night

Moreover Elihu answered and said: “Do you think this is right? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’? For you say, ‘What advantage will it be to You? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’ “I will answer you, And your companions with you. Look to the heavens and see; And behold the clouds— They are higher than you. If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him? If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand? Your wickedness affects a man such as you, And your righteousness a son of man. “Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty. But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night

Elihu lit into Job again: “Does this kind of thing make any sense? First you say, ‘I’m perfectly innocent before God.’ And then you say, ‘It doesn’t make a bit of difference whether I’ve sinned or not.’ “Well, I’m going to show you that you don’t know what you’re talking about, neither you nor your friends. Look up at the sky. Take a long hard look. See those clouds towering above you? If you sin, what difference could that make to God? No matter how much you sin, will it matter to him? Even if you’re good, what would God get out of that? Do you think he’s dependent on your accomplishments? The only ones who care whether you’re good or bad are your family and friends and neighbors. God’s not dependent on your behavior. “When times get bad, people cry out for help. They cry for relief from being kicked around, But never give God a thought when things go well, when God puts spontaneous songs in their hearts, When God sets out the entire creation as a science classroom, using birds and beasts to teach wisdom. People are arrogantly indifferent to God— until, of course, they’re in trouble, and then God is indifferent to them. There’s nothing behind such prayers except panic; the Almighty pays them no mind. So why would he notice you just because you say you’re tired of waiting to be heard, Or waiting for him to get good and angry and do something about the world’s problems?

Then Elihu continued and said, “Do you think this is in accordance with justice? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’? “For you say, ‘What advantage will it be to You? What benefit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’ “I will answer you, And your friends with you. “Look at the heavens and see; And look at the clouds—they are higher than you. “If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him? And if your wrongdoings are many, what do you do to Him? “If you are righteous, what do you give to Him, Or what does He receive from your hand? “Your wickedness is for a man like yourself, And your righteousness is for a son of man. ¶“Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help because of the arm of the mighty. “But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night

Elihu continued speaking [to Job] and said, “Do you think this is according to [your] justice? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’? “For you say, ‘What advantage have you [by living a righteous life]? What profit will I have, more [by being righteous] than if I had sinned?’ “I will answer you, And your companions with you. “Look to the heavens and see; And behold the skies which are [much] higher than you. “If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what have you done to Him? “If you are righteous, what do you give God, Or what does He receive from your hand? “Your wickedness affects only a man such as you, And your righteousness affects only a son of man [but it cannot affect God, who is sovereign]. ¶“Because of the multitudes of oppressions the people cry out; They cry for help because of the [violent] arm of the mighty. “But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs [of rejoicing] in the night, [Acts 16:25]

Then Elihu answered: “Do you think this to be just: when you say, ‘My right before God.’ But you say, ‘What will it profit you,’ and, ‘What do I gain by not sinning?’ I will reply to you, and to your friends with you. Gaze at the heavens and see; consider the clouds, which are higher than you! If you sin, how does it affect God? If your transgressions are many, what does it do to him? If you are righteous, what do you give to God, or what does he receive from your hand? Your wickedness affects only a person like yourself, and your righteousness only other people. “People cry out because of the excess of oppression; they cry out for help because of the power of the mighty. But no one says, ‘Where is God, my Creator, who gives songs in the night