Parallel Bible results for "job 35"

Job 35

1 And Elihu answered and said:

1 Elihu lit into Job again:

2 "Do you think this to be just? Do you say, 'It is my right before God,'

2 "Does this kind of thing make any sense? First you say, 'I'm perfectly innocent before God.'

3 that you ask, 'What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?'

3 And then you say, 'It doesn't make a bit of difference whether I've sinned or not.'

4 I will answer you and your friends with you.

4 "Well, I'm going to show you that you don't know what you're talking about, neither you nor your friends.

5 Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.

5 Look up at the sky. Take a long hard look. See those clouds towering above you?

6 If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?

6 If you sin, what difference could that make to God? No matter how much you sin, will it matter to him?

7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand?

7 Even if you're good, what would God get out of that? Do you think he's dependent on your accomplishments?

8 Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man.

8 The only ones who care whether you're good or bad are your family and friends and neighbors. God's not dependent on your behavior.

9 "Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.

9 "When times get bad, people cry out for help. They cry for relief from being kicked around,

10 But none says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

10 But never give God a thought when things go well, when God puts spontaneous songs in their hearts,

11 who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?'

11 When God sets out the entire creation as a science classroom, using birds and beasts to teach wisdom.

12 There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.

12 People are arrogantly indifferent to God - until, of course, they're in trouble, and then God is indifferent to them.

13 Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it.

13 There's nothing behind such prayers except panic; the Almighty pays them no mind.

14 How much less when you say that you do not see him, that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him!

14 So why would he notice you just because you say you're tired of waiting to be heard,

15 And now, because his anger does not punish, and he does not take much note of transgression,

15 Or waiting for him to get good and angry and do something about the world's problems?

16 Job opens his mouth in empty talk; he multiplies words without knowledge."

16 "Job, you talk sheer nonsense - nonstop nonsense!"

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.