Job 35

Elihu continued and said,

Do you consider it just,

   To say, ‘I am more righteous than God.’?

Or you ask what benefit is it for you,

   ‘What does it profit me to not sin?’

I shall give you the answer,

   And your companions along side you.

Look unto the heavens, and see,

   Behold the sky so far above you.

If you sin, how do you injure Him?

   If your sins are many, what harm is it to Him?

If you are righteous, what are you giving Him?

   What benefit does He receive from your hand?

Your wickedness affects only those like yourself,

   Your righteousness, only fellow people.

Due to the multitude of oppressions, people are driven to cry out,

   They call for help, because of the power of the mighty.

Not one inquires, ‘Where is God our maker,

   Who sends forth melodies in the night.

Who instructs us more than the earthly beasts,

   Makes us more far-seeing than the birds of heaven?

Then they cry out – but He does not answer –

   Because of the arrogance of evil doers.

But it is false that God does not hear,

   That the Almighty does not see.

Even though you say that you do not see him,

   Yield before Him and trust in Him.

But now, since you do not,

   ‘His wrath requites nothing,

      He heeds not transgression.’

Job, mouth open with empty talk,

   Piles up words devoid of knowledge.

 

Job 325