Job 35

1 Elihu said:

2 Job, are you really innocent in the sight of God?

3 Don't you honestly believe it pays to obey him?

4 I will give the answers to you and your friends. *

5 Look up to the heavens

6 and think! Do your sins hurt God?

7 Is any good you may have done at all helpful to him?

8 The evil or good you do only affects other humans.

9 In times of trouble, everyone begs the mighty God to have mercy.

10 But after their Creator helps them through hard times, they forget about him,

11 though he makes us wiser than animals or birds.

12 God won't listen to the prayers of proud and evil people.

13 If God All-Powerful refuses to answer their empty prayers,

14 he will surely deny your impatient request to face him in court.

15 Job, you were wrong to say God doesn't punish sin.

16 Everything you have said adds up to nonsense.