Job 35
New Living Translation
Chapter overview
Elihu argues that human righteousness adds nothing to God and human sin takes nothing from him, though both affect other people. He says the oppressed often cry out from pain rather than turning to their Maker, and that God does not answer empty pleas that come from pride.
ElihuHuman conductPrayerPatience
1Then Elihu said:
2“Do you think it is right for you to claim, ‘I am righteous before God’?
3For you also ask, ‘What’s in it for me? What’s the use of living a righteous life?’
4“I will answer you and all your friends, too.
5Look up into the sky, and see the clouds high above you.
6If you sin, how does that affect God? Even if you sin again and again, what effect will it have on him?
7If you are good, is this some great gift to him? What could you possibly give him?
8No, your sins affect only people like yourself, and your good deeds also affect only humans.
9“People cry out when they are oppressed. They groan beneath the power of the mighty.
10Yet they don’t ask, ‘Where is God my Creator, the one who gives songs in the night?
11Where is the one who makes us smarter than the animals and wiser than the birds of the sky?’
12And when they cry out, God does not answer because of their pride.
13But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned.
14You say you can’t see him, but he will bring justice if you will only wait.
15You say he does not respond to sinners with anger and is not greatly concerned about wickedness.
16But you are talking nonsense, Job. You have spoken like a fool.”
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Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Text unchanged, provided through API.Bible.