The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 Elihu lit into Job again:
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And Elihu answered and said:
2 "Does this kind of thing make any sense? First you say, 'I'm perfectly innocent before God.'
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“Do you think this to be just? Do you say, ‘It is my right before God, ’
3 And then you say, 'It doesn't make a bit of difference whether I've sinned or not.'
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that you ask, ‘What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned? ’
4 "Well, I'm going to show you that you don't know what you're talking about, neither you nor your friends.
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I will answer you and your friends with you.
5 Look up at the sky. Take a long hard look. See those clouds towering above you?
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Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.
6 If you sin, what difference could that make to God? No matter how much you sin, will it matter to him?
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If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
7 Even if you're good, what would God get out of that? Do you think he's dependent on your accomplishments?
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If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand?
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.
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Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man.
9 "When times get bad, people cry out for help. They cry for relief from being kicked around,
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“Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But never give God a thought when things go well, when God puts spontaneous songs in their hearts,
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But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,
11 When God sets out the entire creation as a science classroom, using birds and beasts to teach wisdom.
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who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens? ’
12 People are arrogantly indifferent to God - until, of course, they're in trouble, and then God is indifferent to them.
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There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.
13 There's nothing behind such prayers except panic; the Almighty pays them no mind.
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Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it.
14 So why would he notice you just because you say you're tired of waiting to be heard,
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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 Or waiting for him to get good and angry and do something about the world's problems?
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And now, because his anger does not punish, and he does not take much note of transgression,
16 "Job, you talk sheer nonsense - nonstop nonsense!"
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Job opens his mouth in empty talk; he multiplies words without knowledge. ”
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025