“But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who gives songs in the night,

Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth
And makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’

Then Elihu continued and said,

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

“Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry for help because of the arm of the mighty.

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

“Look at the heavens and see;
And behold the clouds—they are higher than you.

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

“There they cry out, but He does not answer
Because of the pride of evil men.

So Job opens his mouth emptily;
He multiplies words without knowledge.”

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

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

“Surely God will not listen to an empty cry,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.

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

“For you say, ‘What advantage will it be to You?
What profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’

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