| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then Elihu answered: | 1Then Elihu continued, saying: |
| 2"Do you think this to be just: when you say, 'My right before God.' | 2Do you think it is just when you say, "I am righteous before God"? |
| 3But you say, 'What will it profit you,' and, 'What do I gain by not sinning?' | 3For you ask, "What does it profit You, and what benefit comes to me, if I do not sin?" |
| 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; gaze at the clouds high above you. |
| 6If you sin, how does it affect God? If your transgressions are many, what does it do to him? | 6If you sin, how does it affect God? If you multiply your transgressions, what does it 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 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 affects a person like yourself, and your righteousness another human being. |
| 9"People cry out because of the excess of oppression; they cry out for help because of the power of the mighty. | 9People cry out because of severe oppression; they shout 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 no one asks, "Where is God my Maker, who provides us with 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 gives us more understanding than the animals of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?" |
| 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. | 13Indeed, God does not listen to empty cries, and the Almighty does not take note of 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 complain that you do not see Him, that your 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! | 15But now, because God's anger does not punish and He does not pay attention to transgression, |
| 16So Job opens his mouth to no purpose; without knowledge he multiplies words." | 16Job opens his mouth in vain and multiplies words without knowledge. |
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