• Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness

  • 1 Moreover Elihu answered and said:
  • 2 “Do you think this is right? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
  • 3 For 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.
  • 6 If 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?
  • 8 Your 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.
  • 10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night,
  • 11 Who 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.
  • 15 And 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.”