| NET Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Then Elihu answered: | 1And Elihu went on to say: |
| 2"Do you think this to be just: when you say, 'My right before God.' | 2“Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I am more righteous than God.’ |
| 3But you say, 'What will it profit you,' and, 'What do I gain by not sinning?' | 3For you ask, ‘What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’ |
| 4I will reply to you, and to your friends with you. | 4I will reply to you and to your friends as well. |
| 5Gaze at the heavens and see; consider the clouds, which are higher than you! | 5Look to the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you. |
| 6If you sin, how does it affect God? If your transgressions are many, what does it do to him? | 6If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? If you multiply your transgressions, what do you do to Him? |
| 7If you are righteous, what do you give to God, or what does he receive from your hand? | 7If you are righteous, what do you give Him, or what does He receive from your hand? |
| 8Your wickedness affects only a person like yourself, and your righteousness only other people. | 8Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself, and your righteousness only a son of man. |
| 9"People cry out because of the excess of oppression; they cry out for help because of the power of the mighty. | 9Men cry out under great oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty. |
| 10But no one says, 'Where is God, my Creator, who gives songs in the night, | 10But no one asks, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives us songs in the night, |
| 11who teaches us more than the wild animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?' | 11who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’ |
| 12Then they cry out--but he does not answer--because of the arrogance of the wicked. | 12There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men. |
| 13Surely it is an empty cry--God does not hear it; the Almighty does not take notice of it. | 13Surely God does not listen to empty pleas, and the Almighty does not take note of it. |
| 14How much less, then, when you say that you do not perceive him, that the case is before him and you are waiting for him! | 14How much less, then, when you say that you do not see Him, that your case is before Him and you must wait for Him, |
| 15And further, when you say that his anger does not punish, and that he does not know transgression! | 15and further, that in His anger He has not punished or taken much notice of folly! |
| 16So Job opens his mouth to no purpose; without knowledge he multiplies words." | 16So Job opens his mouth in vain and multiplies words without knowledge.” |
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