1 And Elihu made answer and said,

2 Does it seem to you to be right, and righteousness before God, to say,

3 What profit is it to me, and how am I better off than if I had done wrong?

4 I will make answer to you and to your friends:

5 Let your eyes be turned to the heavens, and lifted up to see the skies; they are higher than you.

6 If you have done wrong, is he any the worse for it? and if your sins are great in number, what is it to him?

7 If you are upright, what do you give to him? or what does he take from your hand?

8 Your evil-doing may have an effect on a man like yourself, or your righteousness on a son of man.

9 Because the hand of the cruel is hard on them, men are making sounds of grief; they are crying out for help because of the arm of the strong.

10 But no one has said, Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night;

11 Who gives us more knowledge than the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the heaven?

12 There they are crying out because of the pride of the evil-doers, but he gives them no answer.

13 But God will not give ear to what is false, or the Ruler of all take note of it;

14 How much less when you say that you do not see him; that the cause is before him, and you are waiting for him.

15 And now ... ;

16 And Job's mouth is open wide to give out what is of no profit, increasing words without knowledge.

1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,

2 Thinkest thou this to be thy right,

Or sayest thou, My righteousness is more than God’s,

3 That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee?

And, What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?

4 I will answer thee,

And thy companions with thee.

5 Look unto the heavens, and see;

And behold the skies, which are higher than thou.

6 If thou hast sinned, what effectest thou against him?

And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

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.