The Book of Job

And Elihu answers and says:

“Have you reckoned this for judgment [when] you have said, || My righteousness [is] more than God’s?

For you say, What does it profit You? What do I profit from my sin?

I return words, and your friends with you,

Behold attentively the heavens—and see, || And behold the clouds, || They have been higher than you.

If you have sinned, what do you do against Him? And your transgressions have been multiplied, || What do you do to Him?

If you have been righteous, || What do you give to Him? Or what does He receive from your hand?

For a man like yourself [is] your wickedness, || And for a son of man your righteousness.

Because of the multitude of oppressions || They cause to cry out, || They cry because of the arm of the mighty.

And none said, Where [is] God my Maker? Giving songs in the night,

Teaching us more than the beasts of the earth, || Indeed, He makes us wiser than the bird of the heavens.

There they cry, and He does not answer, || Because of the pride of evildoers.

Surely God does not hear vanity, || And the Mighty does not behold it.

Indeed, though you say you do not behold Him, || Judgment [is] before Him, and stays for Him.

And now, because there is not, || He has appointed His anger, || And He has not known in great extremity.

And Job opens his mouth [with] vanity, || He multiplies words without knowledge.”

Moreover Elihu answered,

“Do you think this to be your right, or do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s,’

that you ask, ‘What advantage will it be to you? What profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’

I will answer you, and your companions with you.

Look to the skies, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.

If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him? 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 may hurt a man as you are, and your righteousness may profit a son of man.

“By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out. They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.

But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’

There they cry, but no one answers, because of the pride of evil men.

Surely God will not hear an empty cry, neither will the Almighty regard it.

How much less when you say you don’t see him. The cause is before him, and you wait for him!

But now, because he has not visited in his anger, neither does he greatly regard arrogance,

therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, and he multiplies words without knowledge.”