2"Do you think this to be your right, or do you say, 'My righteousness is more than God's,'

3That you ask, 'What advantage will it be to you? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?'

4I will answer you, and your companions with you.

5Look to the heavens, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.

6If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him? If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?

7If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he receive from your hand?

8Your 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.

10But none says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

11who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'

12There they cry, but none gives answer, because of the pride of evil men.

13Surely God will not hear an empty cry, neither will Shaddai regard it.

14How much less when you say you do not see him. The cause is before him, and you wait for him.

15But now, because he has not visited in his anger, neither does he greatly regard arrogance.

16Therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, and he multiplies words without knowledge."