New King James Version | NET Bible |
1Moreover Elihu answered and said: | 1Then Elihu answered: |
2“Do you think this is right? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’? | 2"Do you think this to be just: when you say, 'My right before God.' |
3For you say, ‘What advantage will it be to You? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’ | 3But you say, 'What will it profit you,' and, 'What do I gain by not sinning?' |
4“I will answer you, And your companions with you. | 4I will reply to you, and to your friends with you. |
5Look to the heavens and see; And behold the clouds— They are higher than you. | 5Gaze at the heavens and see; consider the clouds, which are higher than you! |
6If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him? | 6If you sin, how does it affect God? If your transgressions are many, what does it do to him? |
7If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand? | 7If you are righteous, what do you give to God, or what does he receive from your hand? |
8Your wickedness affects a man such as you, And your righteousness a son of man. | 8Your wickedness affects only a person like yourself, and your righteousness only other people. |
9“Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty. | 9"People cry out because of the excess of oppression; they cry out for help because of the power of the mighty. |
10But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night, | 10But no one says, 'Where is God, my Creator, who gives songs in the night, |
11Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’ | 11who teaches us more than the wild animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?' |
12There they cry out, but He does not answer, Because of the pride of evil men. | 12Then they cry out--but he does not answer--because of the arrogance of the wicked. |
13Surely God will not listen to empty talk, Nor will the Almighty regard it. | 13Surely it is an empty cry--God does not hear it; the Almighty does not take notice of it. |
14Although you say you do not see Him, Yet justice is before Him, and you must wait for Him. | 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! |
15And now, because He has not punished in His anger, Nor taken much notice of folly, | 15And further, when you say that his anger does not punish, and that he does not know transgression! |
16Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain; He multiplies words without knowledge.” | 16So Job opens his mouth to no purpose; without knowledge he multiplies words." |
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