Elihu Condemns Job

1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,

1 Elihu spake moreover, and said,

1 Then Elihu continued and said,

1 Then Elihu continued, saying:

1 In response, Elihu said:

2 Thinkest thou this to be thy right, Or'sayest thou, My righteousness is more than God's,

2 Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?

2 “Do you think this is according to (A)justice?Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?

2 Do you think it is just when you say,“I am righteous before God”?

2 "Are you saying that it's just for you to claim, "I'm more righteous than God?'

3 That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? And , What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?

3 For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

3 “For you say, ‘(B)What advantage will it be to (a)You?(C)What profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’

3 For you ask, “What does it profit You,(a)and what benefit comes to me, if I do not sin?”(A)

3 After all, you've asked what your benefit will be: "What will I profit from refraining from sin?'

4 I will answer thee, And thy companions with thee.

4 I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.

4 “I will answer you,And your friends with you.

4 I will answer youand your friends with you.

4 I'm going to respond to that statement, and to your friends with you."

Human Behavior Cannot Change God

5 Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the skies, which are higher than thou.

5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.

5 (D)Look at the heavens and see;And behold (E)the clouds—they are higher than you.

5 Look at the heavens and see;gaze at the clouds high above you.

5 "Observe the heavens! Take a look around! Look! The clouds are higher than you, aren't they?

6 If thou hast sinned, what effectest thou against him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

6 “If you have sinned, (F)what do you accomplish against Him?And if your transgressions are many, what do you do to Him?

6 If you sin, how does it affect God?If you multiply your transgressions, what does it do to Him?

6 If you sin, what will that do to harm him? If you add transgression to transgression what will it do to him?

7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or what receiveth he of thy hand?

7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?

7 “If you are righteous, (G)what do you give to Him,Or what does He receive from your hand?

7 If you are righteous, what do you give Him,or what does He receive from your hand?(B)

7 If you are righteous, what will you add to him? What can God receive from your efforts?

8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; And thy righteousness may profit a son of man.

8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

8 “Your wickedness is for a man like yourself,And your righteousness is for a son of man.

8 Your wickedness affects a person like yourself,and your righteousness another human being.

8 Your wickedness affects only yourself; and your righteousness, only human beings.

9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.

9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.

9 “Because of the (H)multitude of oppressions they cry out;They cry for help because of the arm (I)of the mighty.

9 People cry out because of severe oppression;they shout for help because of the arm of the mighty.(C)

9 "They cry out because they have many oppressors; they cry for help because the powerful are abusing them.

10 But none saith, Where is God my Maker, Who giveth songs in the night,

10 But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

10 “But (J)no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,Who (K)gives songs in the night,

10 But no one asks, “Where is God my Maker,(D)who provides us with songs in the night,(E)

10 He never asks, "Where is God, my Creator, who gives me songs in the night,

11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, And maketh us wiser than the birds of the heavens?

11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

11 Who (L)teaches us more than the beasts of the earthAnd makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’

11 who gives us more understanding than the animals of the earthand makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?”(F)

11 who teaches us more than the earth's wild animals, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'

12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, Because of the pride of evil men.

12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.

12 “There (M)they cry out, but He does not answerBecause of the pride of evil men.

12 There they cry out, but He does not answer,because of the pride of evil men.(G)

12 "They cry out there, but he doesn't answer because of the arrogance of those who practice evil.

13 Surely God will not hear an empty cry , Neither will the Almighty regard it.

13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

13 “Surely (N)God will not listen to (b)an empty cry,Nor will the Almighty regard it.

13 Indeed, God does not listen to empty cries,and the Almighty does not take note of it—

13 Theirs is a useless plea God won't listen; the Almighty won't pay any attention.

14 How much less when thou sayest thou beholdest him not, The cause is before him, and thou waitest for him!

14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.

14 “How much less when (O)you say you do not behold Him,The (P)case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!

14 how much less when(b) you complain(c)that you do not see Him,that your case(H) is before Himand you are waiting(I) for Him.

14 Even though you complain that you can't perceive him, your case is already pending for judgment in his presence so keep on placing your hope in him.

15 But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, Neither doth he greatly regard arrogance;

15 But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:

15 “And now, because He has not visited in His anger,Nor has He acknowledged (c)transgression well,

15 But now, because God’s anger does not punishand He does not pay attention to transgression,(d)

15 "So now, if he doesn't inflict punishment in his anger, then he doesn't keep track of your many transgressions.

16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vanity; He multiplieth words without knowledge.

16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

16 So Job opens his mouth (d)emptily;He multiplies words (Q)without knowledge.”

16 Job opens his mouth in vainand multiplies words without knowledge.(J)

16 When he began speaking, he communicated only worthlessness; he added words upon words without knowing anything."

American Standard Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

King James Version Public Domain

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org