351 Then Elihu said: 2 "Do you think this is just? You say, 'I am in the right, not God.' 3 Yet you ask him, 'What profit is it to me,[1]and what do I gain by not sinning?' 4 "I would like to reply to you and to your friends with you. 5 Look up at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you. 6 If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him? 7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand? 8 Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself, and your righteousness only other people.

Other Translations of Job 35:1-8

King James Version

351 Elihu spake moreover, and said, 2 Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's? 3 For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin? 4 I will answer answer...: Heb. return to thee words thee, and thy companions with thee. 5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. 6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? 7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? 8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

English Standard Version

351 And Elihu answered and said: 2 "Do you think this to be just? Do you say, 'It is my right before God,' 3 that you ask, 'What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?' 4 I will answer you and your friends with you. 5 Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you. 6 If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? 7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand? 8 Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man.

The Message

351 Elihu lit into Job again: 2 "Does this kind of thing make any sense? First you say, 'I'm perfectly innocent before God.' 3 And then you say, 'It doesn't make a bit of difference whether I've sinned or not.' 4 "Well, I'm going to show you that you don't know what you're talking about, neither you nor your friends. 5 Look up at the sky. Take a long hard look. See those clouds towering above you? 6 If you sin, what difference could that make to God? No matter how much you sin, will it matter to him? 7 Even if you're good, what would God get out of that? Do you think he's dependent on your accomplishments? 8 The only ones who care whether you're good or bad are your family and friends and neighbors. God's not dependent on your behavior.

New King James Version

351 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.

New Living Translation

351 Then Elihu said: 2 "Do you think it is right for you to claim, 'I am righteous before God'? 3 For you also ask, 'What's in it for me? What's the use of living a righteous life?' 4 "I will answer you and all your friends, too. 5 Look up into the sky, and see the clouds high above you. 6 If you sin, how does that affect God? Even if you sin again and again, what effect will it have on him? 7 If you are good, is this some great gift to him? What could you possibly give him? 8 No, your sins affect only people like yourself, and your good deeds also affect only humans.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 35:1-8

Commentary on Job 35:1-8

(Read Job 35:1-8)

Elihu reproves Job for justifying himself more than God, and called his attention to the heavens. They are far above us, and God is far above them; how much then is he out of the reach, either of our sins or of our services! We have no reason to complain if we have not what we expect, but should be thankful that we have better than we deserve.