| NET Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1Then Elihu answered: | 1And Elihu answered and said: |
| 2"Do you think this to be just: when you say, 'My right before God.' | 2“Do you think this to be just? Do you say, ‘It is my right before God,’ |
| 3But you say, 'What will it profit you,' and, 'What do I gain by not sinning?' | 3that you ask, ‘What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?’ |
| 4I will reply to you, and to your friends with you. | 4I will answer you and your friends with you. |
| 5Gaze at the heavens and see; consider the clouds, which are higher than you! | 5Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you. |
| 6If you sin, how does it affect God? If your transgressions are many, what does 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 do you give to God, or what does he receive from your hand? | 7If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand? |
| 8Your wickedness affects only a person like yourself, and your righteousness only other people. | 8Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man. |
| 9"People cry out because of the excess of oppression; they cry out for help because of the power of the mighty. | 9“Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty. |
| 10But no one says, 'Where is God, my Creator, who gives songs in the night, | 10But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, |
| 11who teaches us more than the wild animals of the earth, 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?’ |
| 12Then they cry out--but he does not answer--because of the arrogance of the wicked. | 12There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evil men. |
| 13Surely it is an empty cry--God does not hear it; the Almighty does not take notice of it. | 13Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it. |
| 14How much less, then, when you say that you do not perceive him, that the case is before him and you are waiting for 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! |
| 15And further, when you say that his anger does not punish, and that he does not know transgression! | 15And now, because his anger does not punish, and he does not take much note of transgression, |
| 16So Job opens his mouth to no purpose; without knowledge he multiplies words." | 16Job opens his mouth in empty talk; he multiplies words without knowledge.” |
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