Job chapter 35
English Standard Version
2"Do you think this to be just? Do you say, ‘It is my right before God,’ 3that you ask, ‘What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?’ 4I will answer you and your friends with you. 5 Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you. 6If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? 7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand? 8Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man. 9"Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty. 10But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, 11who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’ 12There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evil men. 13Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it. 14How much less when you say that you do not see him, that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him! 15And now, because his anger does not punish, and he does not take much note of transgression, 16Job opens his mouth in empty talk; he multiplies words without knowledge."
New International Version
3Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me, and what do I gain by not sinning?’ 4"I would like to reply to you and to your friends with you. 5Look up at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you. 6If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him? 7If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand?
8Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself, and your righteousness only other people. 9"People cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful. 10But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, 11who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds in the sky?’ 12He does not answer when people cry out because of the arrogance of the wicked. 13Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea; the Almighty pays no attention to it. 14How 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, 15and further, that his anger never punishes and he does not take the least notice of wickedness. 16So Job opens his mouth with empty talk; without knowledge he multiplies words."
New American Standard Bible
2'Do you think this is in accordance with justice? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’? 3For you say, ‘What advantage will it be to You? What benefit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’ 4I will answer you, And your friends with you. 5Look at the heavens and see; And look at the clouds—they are higher than you. 6If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him? And if your wrongdoings are many, what do you do to Him? 7If you are righteous, what do you give to Him, Or what does He receive from your hand? 8Your wickedness is for a man like yourself, And your righteousness is for a son of man. 9'Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help because of the arm of the mighty. 10But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night, 11Who teaches us more than the animals of the earth And makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’ 12There they cry out, but He does not answer Because of the pride of evil people. 13God certainly will not listen to an empty cry, Nor will the Almighty regard it. 14How much less when you say you do not look at Him, The case is before Him, and you must wait for Him! 15And now, because He has not avenged His anger, Nor has He acknowledged wrongdoing well, 16So Job opens his mouth with empty words; He multiplies words without knowledge.'
Christian Standard Bible
2Do you think it is just when you say, "I am righteous before God"? 3For you ask, "What does it profit you, and what benefit comes to me, if I do not sin?" 4I will answer you and your friends with you. 5Look at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you. 6If you sin, how does it affect God? If you multiply your transgressions, what does it do to him? 7If you are righteous, what do you give him, or what does he receive from your hand? 8Your wickedness affects a person like yourself, and your righteousness, a son of man. 9People cry out because of severe oppression; they shout for help because of the power of the mighty. 10But no one asks, "Where is God my Maker, who provides us with songs in the night, 11who gives us more understanding than the animals of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?" 12There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evil people. 13Indeed, God does not listen to empty cries, and the Almighty does not take note of it— 14how much less when you complain that you do not see him, that your case is before him and you are waiting for him. 15But now, because God’s anger does not punish and he does not pay attention to transgression, 16Job opens his mouth in vain and multiplies words without knowledge.
New Living Translation
2'Do you think it is right for you to claim, ‘I am righteous before God’? 3For you also ask, ‘What’s in it for me? What’s the use of living a righteous life?’
4'I will answer you and all your friends, too. 5Look up into the sky, and see the clouds high above you. 6If you sin, how does that affect God? Even if you sin again and again, what effect will it have on him? 7If you are good, is this some great gift to him? What could you possibly give him? 8No, your sins affect only people like yourself, and your good deeds also affect only humans.
9'People cry out when they are oppressed. They groan beneath the power of the mighty. 10Yet they don’t ask, ‘Where is God my Creator, the one who gives songs in the night? 11Where is the one who makes us smarter than the animals and wiser than the birds of the sky?’ 12And when they cry out, God does not answer because of their pride. 13But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned. 14You say you can’t see him, but he will bring justice if you will only wait. 15You say he does not respond to sinners with anger and is not greatly concerned about wickedness. 16But you are talking nonsense, Job. You have spoken like a fool.'
King James Version
New King James Version
2“Do you think this is right? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’? 3For you say, ‘What advantage will it be to You? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’ 4“I will answer you, And your companions with you. 5 Look to the heavens and see; And behold the clouds— They are higher than you. 6If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him? 7 If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand? 8Your wickedness affects a man such as you, And your righteousness a son of man. 9“Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty. 10But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night, 11Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’ 12 There they cry out, but He does not answer, Because of the pride of evil men. 13 Surely God will not listen to empty talk, Nor will the Almighty regard it. 14 Although you say you do not see Him, Yet justice is before Him, and you must wait for Him. 15And now, because He has not punished in His anger, Nor taken much notice of folly, 16 Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain; He multiplies words without knowledge.”