1Elihu continued to speak [to Job and his friends],

2"Do you think this is right when you say, 'My case is more just than God's,'

3when you ask, 'What benefit is it to you?' and, 'What would I gain by sinning?'

4I will answer you and your friends.

5"Look at the heavens and see. Observe the clouds high above you.

6If you've sinned, what effect can you have on God? If you've done many wrongs, what can you do to him?

7If you're righteous, what can you give him, or what can he get from you?

8Your wickedness affects only someone like yourself. Your righteousness affects only the descendants of Adam.

9The weight of oppression makes them cry out. The power of mighty people makes them call for help.

10But no one asks, 'Where is God, my Creator, who inspires songs in the night,

11who teaches us more than he teaches the animals of the earth, who makes us wiser than the birds in the sky?'

12Then they cry out, but he doesn't answer them because of the arrogance of [those] evil people.

13"Surely, God doesn't listen to idle complaints. The Almighty doesn't even pay attention to them.

14Although you say that you pay attention to him, your case is in front of him, but you'll have to wait for him.

15And now [you say] that his anger doesn't punish [anyone] and he isn't too concerned about evil.

16Job opens his mouth for no good reason and talks a lot without having any knowledge."