Good News Translation GNT
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 It is not right, Job, for you to say that you are innocent in God's sight,
1
And Eli'hu said:
3 or to ask God, "How does my sin affect you? What have I gained by not sinning?"
3
that you ask, 'What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?'
4 I am going to answer you and your friends too.
4
I will answer you and your friends with you.
5 Look at the sky! See how high the clouds are!
5
Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.
6 If you sin, that does no harm to God. If you do wrong many times, does that affect him?
6
If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
7 Do you help God by being so righteous? There is nothing God needs from you.
7
If you are righteous, what do you give to him; or what does he receive from your hand?
8 Others suffer from your sins, and the good you do helps them.
8
Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man.
9 When people are oppressed, they groan; they cry for someone to save them.
9
"Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But they don't turn to God, their Creator, who gives them hope in their darkest hours.
10
But none says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,
11 They don't turn to God, who makes us wise, wiser than any animal or bird.
11
who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?'
12 They cry for help, but God doesn't answer, for they are proud and evil.
12
There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.
13 It is useless for them to cry out; Almighty God does not see or hear them.
13
Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it.
14 Job, you say you can't see God; but wait patiently - your case is before him.
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!
15 You think that God does not punish, that he pays little attention to sin.
15
And now, because his anger does not punish, and he does not greatly heed transgression,
16 It is useless for you to go on talking; it is clear you don't know what you are saying.
16
Job opens his mouth in empty talk, he multiplies words without knowledge."
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.