Open English Translation JOB Chapter 35

35 Then Elihu continued again:

2 Do you consider yourself to be honest

when you’ve said, ‘God knows that I’m innocent.’

3 You ask, ‘What does it benefit you?

How am I better off than I would be if I had sinned?’

4 I’ll answer you with words,

and answer your three friends as well.

5 Look up at the sky and observe,

and see that the clouds are higher than you.

6 If you disobey him, what do effect could it have on him?[ref]

≈And if your disobedience accumulates, what could that do to him?

7 If you’re innocent, what does he gain from that,

or what good thing will he receive due to that?

8 Wickedness only applies to people like us,

and innocence is only a concept for humans.

9 People cry out because there’s so much oppression,

≈they cry for help because some people have so much power.

10 But no one asks, ‘Where’s God my creator,

who gives us songs in the night,

11 who has taught us more than he taught the animals,

≈and made us wiser than he made the birds in the sky.

12 When they cry out, he doesn’t answer

because of the pride of wicked people.

13 Surely God doesn’t listen to empty words.

≈Surely the provider doesn’t take notice of them.

14 Indeed you’ll say that you can’t see him.

Your case is in front of him but you’re waiting for him.

15 So now in his anger, he hasn’t visited,

and he doesn’t take much notice of disobedience.

16 So Iyyov opens his mouth for nothing.

≈He says many words but doesn’t know what he’s talking about.