Elihu Condemns Job
2 Does it seem to you to be right, and righteousness before God, to say,
2 Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, 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 What profit is it to me, and how am I better off than if I had done wrong?
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 After all, you've asked what your benefit will be: "What will I profit from refraining from sin?'
Human Behavior Cannot Change God
5 Let your eyes be turned to the heavens, and lifted up to see the skies; they are higher than you.
5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.
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 you have done wrong, is he any the worse for it? and if your sins are great in number, what is it to 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?
8 Your evil-doing may have an effect on a man like yourself, or your righteousness on 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 Because the hand of the cruel is hard on them, men are making sounds of grief; they are crying out for help because of the arm of the strong.
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.
11 Who gives us more knowledge than the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the heaven?
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?'
13 But God will not give ear to what is false, or the Ruler of all take note of it;
13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither 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 you say that you do not see him; that the cause is before him, and you are waiting 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.
16 And Job's mouth is open wide to give out what is of no profit, increasing words without knowledge.
16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.
16 When he began speaking, he communicated only worthlessness; he added words upon words without knowing anything."