Job 35:7-16

7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or what receiveth he of thy hand?

8 Thy wickedness [may hurt] a man as thou art; And thy righteousness [may profit] a son of man.

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 none saith, Where is God my Maker, Who giveth songs in the night,

11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, And maketh us wiser than the birds of the heavens?

12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, Because of the pride of evil men.

13 Surely God will not hear an empty [cry], Neither will the Almighty regard it.

14 How much less when thou sayest thou beholdest him not, The cause is before him, and thou waitest for him!

15 But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, Neither doth he greatly regard arrogance;

16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vanity; He multiplieth words without knowledge.

Job 35:7-16 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.