New International Version NIV
New International Reader's Version NIRV
1 Then Elihu said:
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Elihu continued,
2 “Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I am in the right, not God.’
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"Job, do you think it's fair for you to say, 'God will clear me of all charges'?
3 Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,and what do I gain by not sinning?’
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You ask him, 'What good is it for me not to sin? What do I get by not sinning?'
4 “I would like to reply to you and to your friends with you.
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"I'd like to reply to you and to your friends who are with you.
5 Look up at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you.
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Look up at the heavens. Observe the clouds that are high above you.
6 If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him?
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If you sin, what does that mean to God? If you sin many times, what does that do to him?
7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand?
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If you do what is right, how does that help him? What does he get from you?
8 Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself, and your righteousness only other people.
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The evil things you do only hurt someone like yourself. The right things you do only help other human beings.
9 “People cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.
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"People cry out when they are beaten down. They beg to be set free from the power of those who are over them.
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,
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But no one says, 'Where is the God who made me? He gives us songs even during the night.
11 who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds in the sky?’
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He teaches more to us than to wild animals. He makes us wiser than the birds of the air.'
12 He does not answer when people cry out because of the arrogance of the wicked.
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He doesn't answer sinful people when they cry out to him. That's because they are so proud.
13 Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea; the Almighty pays no attention to it.
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In fact, God doesn't listen to their empty cries. The Mighty One doesn't pay any attention to them.
14 How much less, then, will he listen when you say that you do not see him, that your case is before him and you must wait for him,
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So he certainly won't listen to you. When you say you don't see him, he won't hear you. He won't listen when you state your case to him. He won't pay attention even if you wait for him.
15 and further, that his anger never punishes and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.
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When you say his anger never punishes sin, he won't hear you. He won't listen when you say he doesn't pay any attention to evil.
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty talk; without knowledge he multiplies words.”
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So you say things that don't mean anything. You use a lot of words, but you don't know what you are talking about."
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.