| International Standard Version | English Standard Version |
| 1In response, Elihu said: | 1And Elihu answered and said: |
| 2"Are you saying that it's just for you to claim, 'I'm more righteous than God?' | 2“Do you think this to be just? Do you say, ‘It is my right before God,’ |
| 3After all, you've asked what your benefit will be: 'What will I profit from refraining from sin?' | 3that you ask, ‘What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?’ |
| 4I'm going to respond to that statement, and to your friends with you." | 4I will answer you and your friends with you. |
| 5"Observe the heavens! Take a look around! Look! The clouds are higher than you, aren't they? | 5Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you. |
| 6If you sin, what will that do to harm him? If you add transgression to transgression what will it do to him? | 6If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? |
| 7If you are righteous, what will you add to him? What can God receive from your efforts? | 7If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand? |
| 8Your wickedness affects only yourself; and your righteousness, only human beings. | 8Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man. |
| 9"They cry out because they have many oppressors; they cry for help because the powerful are abusing them. | 9“Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty. |
| 10He never asks, 'Where is God, my Creator, who gives me songs in the night, | 10But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, |
| 11who teaches us more than the earth's wild animals, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?' | 11who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’ |
| 12"They cry out there, but he doesn't answer because of the arrogance of those who practice evil. | 12There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evil men. |
| 13Theirs is a useless plea— God won't listen; the Almighty won't pay any attention. | 13Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it. |
| 14Even 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. | 14How much less when you say that you do not see him, that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him! |
| 15"So now, if he doesn't inflict punishment in his anger, then he doesn't keep track of your many transgressions. | 15And now, because his anger does not punish, and he does not take much note of transgression, |
| 16When he began speaking, he communicated only worthlessness; he added words upon words without knowing anything." | 16Job opens his mouth in empty talk; he multiplies words without knowledge.” |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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