Job 35:1-8
Job 35:1-8 The Message (MSG)
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.
Job 35:1-8 King James Version (KJV)
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.
Job 35:1-8 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Then Elihu continued and said, “Do you think this is according to justice? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’? For you say, ‘What advantage will it be to You? What profit 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 behold the clouds—they are higher than you. If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him? And if your transgressions 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.
Job 35:1-8 New Century Version (NCV)
Then Elihu said: “Do you think this is fair? You say, ‘God will show that I am right,’ but you also ask, ‘What’s the use? I don’t gain anything by not sinning.’ “I will answer you and your friends who are with you. Look up at the sky and see the clouds so high above you. If you sin, it does nothing to God; even if your sins are many, they do nothing to him. If you are good, you give nothing to God; he receives nothing from your hand. Your evil ways only hurt others like yourself, and the good you do only helps other human beings.
Job 35:1-8 American Standard Version (ASV)
Moreover Elihu answered and said, Thinkest thou this to be thy right, Or sayest thou, My righteousness is more than God’s, That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? And, What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned? I will answer thee, And thy companions with thee. Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the skies, which are higher than thou. If thou hast sinned, what effectest thou against him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or what receiveth he of thy hand? Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; And thy righteousness may profit a son of man.
Job 35:1-8 New International Version (NIV)
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.
Job 35:1-8 New King James Version (NKJV)
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.
Job 35:1-8 Amplified Bible (AMP)
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].
Job 35:1-8 New Living Translation (NLT)
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.
Job 35:1-8 English Standard Version Revision 2016 (ESV)
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.