Job 35

1 And Elihu [the friend of Job, having God’s name] went on [continued, spoke moreover] to say [respond, answer, declare]: word study 2 “Do you think [consider, deem] this [this specific situation] is just [right, righteous, according to God’s standard]? You say [declare, affirm], ‘I am more righteous [having God’s nature, upright] than God [the Almighty, Eternal One, ’el, strength and power].’ word study 3 For [because, since] you ask [say, speak], ‘What [in what way, how] does it profit [be useful, benefit] me, and what [in what way, how] benefit [gain, advantage] do I gain [acquire, obtain] apart from [without, separate from] sin [transgression, rebellion] [or what good have I received for not sinning]?’ word study 4 I [emphasizing the speaker] will reply [answer, respond, or turn back with words] to you and to your friends [companions, neighbors, or those close to you] as well [together, with you, or in your presence]. word study 5 Look [gaze attentively, behold] to the heavens [the visible universe, sky] and see [observe, regard carefully]; gaze [to see, to behold] at the clouds [thin vapor, lofty skies] high [exalted, lofty] above you [from your position, in comparison to you]. word study 6 If you sin [miss the mark, go wrong], what do you accomplish [effect, work] against Him? If you multiply [increase, abound] your transgressions [rebellions, revolts], what do you do [make, bring about] to Him? word study 7 If you are [truly, genuinely] righteous [justified, made right with God], what do you give [offer, provide] Him, or what does He receive [get, take] from your hand [outstretched, open, in surrender]? word study 8 Your wickedness [immorality, sinful actions] affects only a man [a human being] like yourself, and your righteousness [virtue, moral integrity] only a son [descendant, human being] of man [the first human, Adam]. word study 9 Men cry out [in distress, with a loud voice] under great [severe, multitude of] oppression [unfair treatment, extortion]; they plead [call out, shout] for relief [help, rescue] from the arm [strength, power] of the mighty [powerful, strong]. word study 10 But no one [none of them] asks, ‘Where [in what location, how] is God [Eloah, the one true God] my Maker [the one who formed me, created me], who gives [provides, bestows upon us] us songs [musical praises, joyful melodies] in the night [the time of darkness, adversity, or hardship], word study 11 who teaches [instructs, guides] us more than the beasts [animals, livestock] of the earth [land, ground] and makes us wiser [more intelligent, discerning] than the birds [fowl, flying creatures] of the air [heaven, sky]?’ word study 12 There [in that place, at that time] they cry out [for help, in distress], but He [God, the Almighty] does not answer [give a response, provide aid], because of the pride [arrogance, self-importance] of evil [wicked, morally bad] men [people, humanity]. word study 13 Surely [certainly, without a doubt] God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] does not listen [hear or pay attention] to empty [vain, false, or deceitful] pleas [cries or requests], and the Almighty [Shadday, all-powerful] does not take note [regard or consider] of it [such vain things]. word study 14 How much less, then, when you say [declare, assert] that you do not see [behold, perceive] Him, that your case [judgment, cause] is before [in the presence of] Him and you must wait [trust, expect] for Him, word study 15 and further [in addition to this], that in His anger [wrath, indicating strong emotion] He has not punished [visited, overseen, or reckoned with] or taken much [greatly, exceedingly] notice of folly [stupidity, weakness, or foolishness, resulting from grossness or degeneracy]! word study 16 So Job [the patriarch famous for his patience] opens his mouth [to speak, utter words] in vain [with empty talk, to no purpose] and multiplies [increases, adds to] words [speech, utterances] without [lacking, devoid of] knowledge [understanding, wisdom].” word study