1 And Elihu answered and said:
2 “Do you think this to be just?
Do you say,vSee ch. 32:2 ‘It is my right before God, ’
3 that you ask,wSee ch. 34:9 ‘What advantage have I?
How am I better off than if I had sinned? ’
4 I will answer you
andxch. 34:8, 36 your friends with you.
5 y[ch. 22:12] Look at the heavens, and see;
and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.
6 If you have sinned,zProv. 8:36; Jer. 7:19 what do you accomplish against him?
And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
7 ach. 22:2, 3; Prov. 9:12; Luke 17:10; [ch. 41:11; Rom. 11:35] If you are righteous, what do you give to him?
Or what does he receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself,
and your righteousnessbch. 25:6 a son of man.
9 Because of the multitude ofcAmos 3:9 oppressions peopledEx. 2:23; [ch. 34:28] cry out;
they call for help because of the arm ofe[ch. 22:8] the mighty.1Or the many
10 But none says, ‘Where is God myfch. 4:17; Deut. 32:6 Maker,
who givesgPs. 42:8; 77:6; 149:5; [Acts 16:25] songs in the night,
11 who teaches ushch. 36:22; Ps. 94:12; Isa. 28:26 more than the beasts of the earth
and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens? ’
12 There theyiSee ch. 27:9 cry out, but he does not answer,
because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God does not hear an empty cry,
nor does the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when you say that youjch. 9:11; 23:8, 9 do not see him,
that the case is before him, and you arek[ch. 13:15] waiting for him!
15 And now, becauselNum. 16:29; Ps. 89:32 his anger does not punish,
and he does not take much note of transgression,
16 Job opens his mouth in empty talk;
hemch. 34:37 multiplies wordsnch. 34:35; 36:12; 38:2; 42:3 without knowledge. ”