Job 35:6-16

6 If you've sinned, what effect can you have on God? If you've done many wrongs, what can you do to him?

7 If you're righteous, what can you give him, or what can he get from you?

8 Your wickedness affects only someone like yourself. Your righteousness affects only the descendants of Adam.

9 The weight of oppression makes them cry out. The power of mighty people makes them call for help.

10 But no one asks, 'Where is God, my Creator, who inspires songs in the night,

11 who teaches us more than he teaches the animals of the earth, who makes us wiser than the birds in the sky?'

12 Then they cry out, but he doesn't answer them because of the arrogance of [those] evil people.

13 "Surely, God doesn't listen to idle complaints. The Almighty doesn't even pay attention to them.

14 Although you say that you pay attention to him, your case is in front of him, but you'll have to wait for him.

15 And now [you say] that his anger doesn't punish [anyone] and he isn't too concerned about evil.

16 Job opens his mouth for no good reason and talks a lot without having any knowledge."

Job 35:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 35

Is this chapter Elihu goes on to charge Job with other unbecoming speeches, which he undertakes to refute; as that he had represented his cause more just than God's, and religion and righteousness as things unprofitable to men, only to God; to which Elihu takes upon him to make answer, Job 35:1-8; and that the cries of the oppressed were not heard by the Lord, so as to give occasion to songs of praise and thankfulness, to which he replies, Job 35:9-13; and that Job had expressed diffidence and despair of ever seeing and enjoying the favour of God, which he endeavours to remove, Job 35:14-16.