Online Bible

Elihu Sharply Reproves Job

Elihu continued speaking to Job and said,

2 “Do you think this is according to your ^ajustice?Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?3 “For you say, ‘^aWhat advantage have you by living a righteous life?^bWhat profit will I have, more by being righteous than if I had sinned?’4 “I will answer you,And your companions with you.5 “^aLook to the heavens and see;And behold ^bthe skies which are much higher than you.6 “If you have sinned, ^awhat do you accomplish against Him?And if your transgressions are multiplied, what have you done to Him?7 “If you are righteous, ^awhat do you give God,Or what does He receive from your hand?8 “Your wickedness affects only a man such as you,And your righteousness affects only ¹a son of man but it cannot affect God, who is sovereign.

9 “Because of the ^amultitudes of oppressions the people cry out;They cry for help because of the violent arm ^bof the mighty.10 “But ^ano one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,Who ^bgives songs of rejoicing in the night, Acts 16:2511 Who ^ateaches us more than the beasts of the earthAnd makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’12 “The people ^acry out, but He does not answerBecause of the pride of evil men.13 “Surely ^aGod will not listen to an empty cry which lacks trust,Nor will the Almighty regard it.14 “Even though ^ayou say that you do not see Him when missing His righteous judgment on earth,Yet your ^bcase is before Him, and you must wait for Him!15 “And now, because He has not quickly punished in His anger,Nor has He acknowledged transgression and arrogance well and seems unaware of the wrong of which a person is guilty,16 Job uselessly opens his mouthAnd multiplies words ^awithout knowledge drawing the worthless conclusion that the righteous have no more advantage than the wicked.”

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Elihu Sharply Reproves Job

Then Elihu continued and said,

2 “Do you think this is according to ^ajustice?Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?3 “For you say, ‘^aWhat advantage will it be to ¹You?^bWhat profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’4 “I will answer you,And your friends with you.5 “^aLook at the heavens and see;And behold ^bthe clouds—they are higher than you.6 “If you have sinned, ^awhat do you accomplish against Him?And if your transgressions are many, what do you do to Him?7 “If you are righteous, ^awhat do you give to Him,Or what does He receive from your hand?8 “Your wickedness is for a man like yourself,And your righteousness is for a son of man.

9 “Because of the ^amultitude of oppressions they cry out;They cry for help because of the arm ^bof the mighty.10 “But ^ano one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,Who ^bgives songs in the night,11 Who ^ateaches us more than the beasts of the earthAnd makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’12 “There ^athey cry out, but He does not answerBecause of the pride of evil men.13 “Surely ^aGod will not listen to ¹an empty cry,Nor will the Almighty regard it.14 “How much less when ^ayou say you do not behold Him,The ^bcase is before Him, and you must wait for Him!15 “And now, because He has not visited in His anger,Nor has He acknowledged ¹transgression well,16 So Job opens his mouth ¹emptily;He multiplies words ^awithout knowledge.”

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Elihu Answers Job

Then Elihu answered and said,

2 “Do you think this is according to ^ajustice?Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?3 “For you say, ‘^aWhat use will it be to ¹You?^bWhat profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’4 “I will respond to you,And your friends with you.5 “^aLook at the heavens and see;And perceive ^bthe clouds—they are higher than you.6 “If you have sinned, ^awhat do you accomplish against Him?And if your transgressions are many, what do you do to Him?7 “If you are righteous, ^awhat do you give to Him,Or what does He receive from your hand?8 “Your wickedness is for a man like yourself,And your righteousness is for a son of man.

9 “Because of ^amany oppressions they cry out;They cry for help because of the arm ^bof many oppressors.10 “But ^ano one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,Who ^bgives songs of praise in the night,11 Who ^ateaches us more than the beasts of the earthAnd makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’12 “There ^athey cry out, but He does not answerBecause of the pride of evil men.13 “Surely ^aGod will not listen to ¹an empty cry,Nor will the Almighty perceive it.14 “How much less when ^ayou say you do not perceive Him,The ^bcase is before Him, and you must wait for Him!15 “And now, because He has not visited in His anger,Nor has He acknowledged ¹transgression well,16 So Job opens his mouth vainly;He multiplies words ^awithout knowledge.”