Study Desk

Then Elihu said:

"Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I am in the right,^(a) not God.'^(b)

Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,^[a] and what do I gain by not sinning?'^(c)

"I would like to reply to you and to your friends with you.

Look up at the heavens^(d) and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you.^(e)

If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him?^(f)

If you are righteous, what do you give to him,^(g) or what does he receive^(h) from your hand?⁽ⁱ⁾

Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,^(j) and your righteousness only other people.^(k)

"People cry out^(l) under a load of oppression;^(m) they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.⁽ⁿ⁾

But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,^(o) who gives songs^(p) in the night,^(q)

who teaches^(r) us^(s) more than he teaches^[b] the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than^[c] the birds in the sky?'

He does not answer^(t) when people cry out because of the arrogance^(u) of the wicked.^(v)

Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea; the Almighty pays no attention to it.^(w)

How much less, then, will he listen when you say that you do not see him,^(x) that your case^(y) is before him and you must wait for him,^(z)

and further, that his anger never punishes^(aa) and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.^[d](ab)

So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;^(ac) without knowledge he multiplies words."^(ad)