¹ And Elihu made answer and said,

^{2 Ref} Does it seem to you to be right, and righteousness before God, to say,

^{3 Ref} What profit is it to me, and how am I better off than if I had done wrong?

^{4 Ref} I will make answer to you and to your friends:

^{5 Ref} Let your eyes be turned to the heavens, and lifted up to see the skies; they are higher than you.

^{6 Ref} If you have done wrong, is he any the worse for it? and if your sins are great in number, what is it to him?

^{7 Ref} If you are upright, what do you give to him? or what does he take from your hand?

^{8 Ref} Your evil-doing may have an effect on a man like yourself, or your righteousness on a son of man.

^{9 Ref} Because the hand of the cruel is hard on them, men are making sounds of grief; they are crying out for help because of the arm of the strong.

^{10 Ref} But no one has said, Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night;

^{11 Ref} Who gives us more knowledge than the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the heaven?

^{12 Ref} There they are crying out because of the pride of the evil-doers, but he gives them no answer.

^{13 Ref} But God will not give ear to what is false, or the Ruler of all take note of it;

^{14 Ref} How much less when you say that you do not see him; that the cause is before him, and you are waiting for him.

^{15 Ref} And now ... ;

^{16 Ref} And Job's mouth is open wide to give out what is of no profit, increasing words without knowledge.

¹ And Elihu answereth and saith: --

^{2 Ref} This hast thou reckoned for judgment: Thou hast said -- `My righteousness `is' more than God's?'

^{3 Ref} For thou sayest, `What doth it profit Thee! What do I profit from my sin?'

^{4 Ref} I return thee words, and thy friends with thee,

^{5 Ref} Behold attentively the heavens -- and see, And behold the clouds, They have been higher than thou.

^{6 Ref} If thou hast sinned, what dost thou against Him? And thy transgressions have been multiplied, What dost thou to Him?

^{7 Ref} If thou hast been righteous, What dost thou give to Him? Or what from thy hand doth He receive?

^{8 Ref} For a man like thyself `is' thy wickedness, And for a son of man thy righteousness.

^{9 Ref} Because of the multitude of oppressions They cause to cry out, They cry because of the arm of the mighty.

^{10 Ref} And none said, `Where `is' God my maker? Giving songs in the night,

^{11 Ref} Teaching us more than the beasts of the earth, Yea, than the fowl of the heavens He maketh us wiser.'

^{12 Ref} There they cry, and He doth not answer, Because of the pride of evil doers.

^{13 Ref} Surely vanity God doth not hear, And the Mighty doth not behold it.

^{14 Ref} Yea, though thou sayest thou dost not behold Him, Judgment `is' before Him, and stay for Him.

^{15 Ref} And, now, because there is not, He hath appointed His anger, And He hath not known in great extremity.

^{16 Ref} And Job `with' vanity doth open his mouth, Without knowledge words he multiplieth.

¹ Moreover Elihu answered,

^{2 Ref} "Do you think this to be your right, Or do you say, 'My righteousness is more than God's,'

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

^{4 Ref} I will answer you, And your companions with you.

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

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

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

^{8 Ref} Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are; And your righteousness may profit a son of man.

^{9 Ref} "By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.

^{10 Ref} But none says, 'Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night,

^{11 Ref} Who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, And makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'

^{12 Ref} There they cry, but none gives answer, Because of the pride of evil men.

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

^{14 Ref} How much less when you say you don't see him. The cause is before him, and you wait for him!

^{15 Ref} But now, because he has not visited in his anger, Neither does he greatly regard arrogance.

^{16 Ref} Therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, And he multiplies words without knowledge."