35:1 Then Elihu answered and said,

35:2 Do you think this to be¹ just:
when² you say, “My right before God.”³
35:3 But you say, “What will it profit you,”⁴
and, “What do I gain by not sinning?”⁵
35:4 I⁶ will reply to you with words,
and to your friends with you.
35:5 Gaze to the heavens and see,
consider the clouds that are higher than you!⁷
35:6 If you sin, how does it affect him?
If your transgressions are many,
what does it do to him?⁸
35:7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him,
or what does he receive from your hand?
35:8 Your wickedness affects only⁹ a man like yourself,
and your righteousness only the sons of men.
35:9 People¹⁰ cry out
because of the excess of oppression,¹¹
they cry out for help
because of the arm of the mighty.
35:10 But no one says, “Where is God, my Maker,
who gives songs in the night,¹²
35:11 Who teaches us¹³ more than¹⁴
the beasts of the earth,
and makes us wiser that the birds of the air?
35:12 Then,¹⁵ they cry out—but he does not answer—
because of the arrogance of the wicked.
35:13 Surely it is an empty cry.¹⁶ God does not hear it.
And the Almighty does not perceive it.
35:14 How much less, then,
when you say that you do not perceive him,
that a case is before him
and you are waiting for him.¹⁷
35:15 And further,¹⁸ when you say
that his anger does not punish,¹⁹
and that he does not know transgression.²⁰
35:16 So Job opens his mouth to no purpose,²¹
without knowledge he multiplies words.