Job 35 — FBV

35Verse 1Then Elihu continued, saying,^{Verse 2}“Do you think it's honest to claim you are right before God?^{Verse 3}And you ask, ‘What benefit do I get? What good has it done me by not sinning?’^{Verse 4}I'll tell you, and your friends too!^{Verse 5}Just look up at the sky and see. Observe the clouds high above you.^{Verse 6}If you sin, how does that harm God?⁺How do your many sins affect God?^{Verse 7}If you do what's right, what good are you doing for him?^{Verse 8}No—your sins only affect people like yourself, and whatever good you do only affects them too.^{Verse 9}People cry out because of terrible persecution; they call for someone to save them from their oppressors.^{Verse 10}But no one asks, ‘Where is the God my maker, the one who gives songs in the night,^{Verse 11}who teaches us more than the animals, and makes us wiser than the birds?’^{Verse 12}When they call out for help, God doesn't answer them because they are proud and evil people.^{Verse 13}God doesn't listen to their empty cries;⁺the Almighty doesn't pay them any attention.^{Verse 14}How much less will God hear you when you say he can't see you?⁺Your case is before him, so you have to wait for him.^{Verse 15}You're saying⁺that God doesn't punish people in his anger and pays little attention to sin.^{Verse 16}You, Job, are talking nonsense, making long speeches when you know nothing!”