Job 35:3

35:3 But you say, ‘What will it profit you,’ ¹ 

and, ‘What do I gain by not sinning?’ ² 

Psalms 73:13

73:13 I concluded, ³  “Surely in vain I have kept my motives ⁴  pure

and maintained a pure lifestyle. ⁵ 

Malachi 3:14-15

3:14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped ⁶  by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord who rules over all? ⁷  3:15 So now we consider the arrogant to be happy; indeed, those who practice evil are successful. ⁸  In fact, those who challenge ⁹  God escape!’”

Luke 9:25

9:25 For what does it benefit a person ¹⁰  if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself?

¹ tn The referent of “you” is usually understood to be God.

² tn The Hebrew text merely says, “What do I gain from my sin?” But Job has claimed that he has not sinned, and so this has to be elliptical: “more than if I had sinned” (H. H. Rowley, Job [NCBC], 224). It could also be, “What do I gain without sin?”

³ tn The words “I concluded” are supplied in the translation. It is apparent that vv. 13-14 reflect the psalmist’s thoughts at an earlier time (see vv. 2-3), prior to the spiritual awakening he describes in vv. 17-28.

⁴ tn Heb “heart,” viewed here as the seat of one’s thoughts and motives.

⁵ tn Heb “and washed my hands in innocence.” The psalmist uses an image from cultic ritual to picture his moral lifestyle. The reference to “hands” suggests actions.

⁶ tn Heb “What [is the] profit”; NIV “What did we gain.”

⁷ sn The people’s public display of self-effacing piety has gone unrewarded by the Lord. The reason, of course, is that it was blatantly hypocritical.

⁸ tn Heb “built up” (so NASB); NIV, NRSV “prosper”; NLT “get rich.”

⁹ tn Or “test”; NRSV, CEV “put God to the test.”

¹⁰ tn Grk “a man,” but ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used in a generic sense here to refer to both men and women.