Comparison is not to be made with God, because our good or evil cannot extend to him, 1-8. Many cry in their afflictions, but are not heard for lack of faith, 9-16.
1 Elihu spoke moreover and said,
2 "Do you think this to be right that you said, 'My righteousness is more than God's'?
3 For you said, 'What advantage will it be to you? What profit shall I have if I am cleansed from my sin?'
4 I will answer you and your companions with you.
5 Look to the heavens and see, and behold the clouds which are higher than you.
6 If you sin, what do you do against him? Or 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 may hurt a man as you are, and your righteousness may profit the son of man.
9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry. They cry out by reason 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, but no one gives answer because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.
14 Although you say you shall not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore, trust in him.
15 But now, because it is not so, he has visited in his anger, yet he does not know it in great extremity.
16 Therefore, Job opens his mouth in vain. He multiplies words without knowledge."
Matthew Henry Commentary - Job, Chapter 35[➚]
John Gill's Chapter Summary:
Is this chapter Elihu goes on to charge Job with other unbecoming speeches, which he undertakes to refute; as that he had represented his cause more just than God's, and religion and righteousness as things unprofitable to men, only to God; to which Elihu takes upon him to make answer (verses 1-8); and that the cries of the oppressed were not heard by the Lord, so as to give occasion to songs of praise and thankfulness, to which he replies (verses 9-13); and that Job had expressed diffidence and despair of ever seeing and enjoying the favor of God, which he endeavors to remove (verses 14-16).