Job 35

Elihu's Third Speech

1-3 When God Makes Creation a Classroom 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.'
4-8 "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.
9-15 "When times get bad, people cry out for help. They cry for relief from being kicked around, But never give God a thought when things go well, when God puts spontaneous songs in their hearts, When God sets out the entire creation as a science classroom, using birds and beasts to teach wisdom. People are arrogantly indifferent to God— until, of course, they're in trouble, and then God is indifferent to them. There's nothing behind such prayers except panic; the Almighty pays them no mind. So why would he notice you just because you say you're tired of waiting to be heard, Or waiting for him to get good and angry and do something about the world's problems?
16 "Job, you talk sheer nonsense— nonstop nonsense!"

Job 35

1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,

2 Thinkest thou this to be thy right, Or sayest thou, My righteousness is more than God’s,

3 That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? And, What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?

4 I will answer thee, And thy companions with thee.

5 Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the skies, which are higher than thou.

6 If thou hast sinned, what effectest thou against him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or what receiveth he of thy hand?

8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; And thy 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.

10 But none saith, Where is God my Maker, Who giveth songs in the night,

11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, And maketh us wiser than the birds of the heavens?

12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, Because of the pride of evil men.

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

14 How much less when thou sayest thou beholdest him not, The cause is before him, and thou waitest for him!

15 But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, Neither doth he greatly regard arrogance;

16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vanity; He multiplieth words without knowledge.