Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 It is not right, Job, for you to say that you are innocent in God's sight,
1
Moreover Elihu answered,
3 or to ask God, "How does my sin affect you? What have I gained by not sinning?"
3
That you ask, 'What advantage will it be to you? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?'
4 I am going to answer you and your friends too.
4
I will answer you, And your companions with you.
5 Look at the sky! See how high the clouds are!
5
Look to the heavens, and see. See the skies, 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 effect do you have against him? 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 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 may hurt a man as you are; And your righteousness may profit a son of man.
9 When people are oppressed, they groan; they cry for someone to save them.
9
"By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help by reason 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 animals of the earth, And makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'
12 They cry for help, but God doesn't answer, for they are proud and evil.
12
There they cry, but none gives 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 will not hear an empty cry, Neither will 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 you don't see him. The cause is before him, and you wait for him!
15 You think that God does not punish, that he pays little attention to sin.
15
But now, because he has not visited in his anger, Neither does he greatly regard arrogance.
16 It is useless for you to go on talking; it is clear you don't know what you are saying.
16
Therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, And he multiplies words without knowledge."
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.