[1] Elihu spoke further [to Job] and said, [2] Do you think this is your right, or are you saying, My righteousness is more than God's, [3] That you ask, What advantage have you? How am I profited more than if I had sinned? [4] I will answer you and your companions with you. [5] Look to the heavens and see; and behold the skies which are higher than you. [6] If you have sinned, how does that affect God? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what have you done to Him? [7] If you are righteous, what do you [by that] give God? Or what does He receive from your hand? [8] Your wickedness touches and affects a man such as you are, and your righteousness is for yourself, one of the human race [but it cannot touch God, Who is above such influence]. [9] Because of the multitudes of oppressions the people cry out; they cry for help because of the violence of the mighty. [10] But no one says, Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs of rejoicing in the night, [11] Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens? [12] [The people] cry out because of the pride of evil men, but He does not answer. [13] Surely God will refuse to answer [the cry which is] vanity (vain and empty-instead of abiding trust); neither will the Almighty regard it- [14] How much less when [missing His righteous judgment on earth] you say that you do not see Him, that your cause is before Him, and you are waiting for Him! [15] But now because God has not [speedily] punished in His anger and seems to be unaware of the wrong and oppression [of which a person is guilty], [16] Job uselessly opens his mouth and multiplies words without knowledge [drawing the worthless conclusion that the righteous have no more advantage than the wicked].
