Holman Christian Standard Bible | New Living Translation |
1Then Elihu continued, saying: | 1Then Elihu said: |
2Do you think it is just when you say, "I am righteous before God"? | 2“Do you think it is right for you to claim, ‘I am righteous before God’? |
3For you ask, "What does it profit You, and what benefit comes to me, if I do not sin?" | 3For you also ask, ‘What’s in it for me? What’s the use of living a righteous life?’ |
4I will answer you and your friends with you. | 4“I will answer you and all your friends, too. |
5Look at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you. | 5Look up into the sky, and see the clouds high above you. |
6If you sin, how does it affect God? If you multiply your transgressions, what does it do to Him? | 6If you sin, how does that affect God? Even if you sin again and again, what effect will it have on him? |
7If you are righteous, what do you give Him, or what does He receive from your hand? | 7If you are good, is this some great gift to him? What could you possibly give him? |
8Your wickedness affects a person like yourself, and your righteousness another human being. | 8No, your sins affect only people like yourself, and your good deeds also affect only humans. |
9People cry out because of severe oppression; they shout for help because of the arm of the mighty. | 9“People cry out when they are oppressed. They groan beneath the power of the mighty. |
10But no one asks, "Where is God my Maker, who provides us with songs in the night, | 10Yet they don’t ask, ‘Where is God my Creator, the one who gives songs in the night? |
11who gives us more understanding than the animals of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?" | 11Where is the one who makes us smarter than the animals and wiser than the birds of the sky?’ |
12There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men. | 12And when they cry out, God does not answer because of their pride. |
13Indeed, God does not listen to empty cries, and the Almighty does not take note of it-- | 13But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned. |
14how much less when you complain that you do not see Him, that your case is before Him and you are waiting for Him. | 14You say you can’t see him, but he will bring justice if you will only wait. |
15But now, because God's anger does not punish and He does not pay attention to transgression, | 15You say he does not respond to sinners with anger and is not greatly concerned about wickedness. |
16Job opens his mouth in vain and multiplies words without knowledge. | 16But you are talking nonsense, Job. You have spoken like a fool.” |
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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