1 Moreover, Elihu {spoke up} and said, 2 "Do you think this [is] justice when you say, '{I am right} before God'? 3 If you ask what it profits you: 'How do I benefit {by refraining from my sin}?' 4 I myself {will give answer to you} and [to] your friends with you. 5 "Look at [the] heavens, and see; and observe [the] clouds [that] are higher than you. 6 If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And [if] your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? 7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand? 8 Your wickedness [affects] a person like yourself, and your righteousness [affects] humans. 9 "Because of [the] multitude of oppressions, they cry out; they cry for help because of [the] arm of [the] mighty. 10 But no one says, 'Where [is] God my Maker, [who] gives songs in the night, 11 [who] teaches us more than [the] animals of [the] earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?' 12 There they cry out, but he does not answer {because of the pride of evildoers}. 13 "Surely God does not hear an empty plea, and Shaddai does not regard it. 14 {How much less} [when] you say [that] you do not see him, that [the] case [is] {before him}, and you are waiting for him! 15 But now, because his anger does not punish, and he does not acknowledge the transgression at all, 16 {therefore} Job opens his mouth in empty talk-- without knowledge he multiplies words."