Job 35: Elihu on what Job's righteousness gives to God
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What happens?
Elihu answers Job. He gives words as Job's, that his righteousness is more than God's and a question about what profit he has, and he tells Job to look at the skies, which are higher than he is. He asks what Job's sin or righteousness does to God, and says it is for a person like Job. He says that people cry out under oppression and no one says where God their Maker is, and that God does not hear an empty cry. He ends by saying that Job opens his mouth with empty talk.
Who is speaking?
God does not speak in this chapter, so nothing is in gold. Elihu speaks all of it, from verse 2 to verse 16, and the narrator gives only verse 1. In verses 2 and 3 Elihu gives words as Job's ("you have said", "you ask"): they are given as Job's words, and Elihu is the one who speaks them here. In verses 10 and 11 he gives words that, he says, no one says. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Moreover Elihu answered,
In plain English: Elihu answered, and said:
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2“Do you think this to be your right, or do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s,’
In plain English: Do you think this is your right (or: just)? Or do you say (the Hebrew is: you have said), "My righteousness is more than God's,"
Good to know: Elihu says "you have said" and gives the words in verses 2 and 3 as Job's. They are the words Elihu says Job said, given here through Elihu.
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3that you ask, ‘What advantage will it be to you? What profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’
In plain English: for you ask, "What advantage will it be to you? What profit will I have, more than if I had sinned (or: from my sin)?"
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4I will answer you, and your companions with you.
In plain English: I will answer you with words, and your friends who are with you.
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5Look to the skies, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.
In plain English: Look at the heavens, and see. Look at the skies (or: clouds), which are higher than you.
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6If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him? If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
In plain English: If you have sinned, what do you do against him? If your transgressions are many, what do you do to him?
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7If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he receive from your hand?
In plain English: If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he take from your hand?
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8Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are, and your righteousness may profit a son of man.
In plain English: Your wickedness is for (or: may hurt) a man like yourself, and your righteousness is for (or: may profit) a son of man.
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9“By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out. They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.
In plain English: Because of the many oppressions, people cry out. They cry for help because of the arm of the mighty (or: the great).
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10But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,
In plain English: But no one says, "Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,
The Hebrew word: "Songs" is zamir, which the dictionary gives as "a song to be accompanied with instrumental music". It is in 6 verses of the Bible, and in 1 verse of Job, this one.
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11who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’
In plain English: who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?"
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12There they cry, but no one answers, because of the pride of evil men.
In plain English: There they cry out, but no one answers (or: he does not answer), because of the pride of evil people.
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13Surely God will not hear an empty cry, neither will the Almighty regard it.
In plain English: Surely God does not hear an empty cry, and the Almighty does not look at it.
The Hebrew word: "Almighty" is Shaddai, which the dictionary gives as "the Almighty". It is in 31 verses of Job and 48 verses of the Bible, and the WEB says "Almighty" in all 31 of the verses in Job. "God" in this verse is a different Hebrew word, El.
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14How much less when you say you don’t see him. The cause is before him, and you wait for him!
In plain English: How much less when you say that you do not see him. The case is before him, and you wait for him!
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15But now, because he has not visited in his anger, neither does he greatly regard arrogance,
In plain English: But now, because his anger has not punished (or: visited), and he does not take much notice of arrogance (or: folly),
The Hebrew word: "Arrogance" is pash, which the dictionary gives as "stupidity (as a result of grossness or of degeneracy)". It is in 1 verse of the Bible, this one, and the WEB says "arrogance" here. The plain line gives "folly" as the other reading.
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16therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, and he multiplies words without knowledge.”
In plain English: Job opens his mouth with empty talk. He multiplies words without knowledge.
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