35:4 I 1 will reply to you, 2
and to your friends with you.
35:5 Gaze at the heavens and see;
consider the clouds, which are higher than you! 3
35:6 If you sin, how does it affect God? 4
If your transgressions are many,
what does it do to him? 5
35:7 If you are righteous, what do you give to God,
or what does he receive from your hand?
35:8 Your wickedness affects only 6 a person like yourself,
and your righteousness only other people. 7
1 tn The emphatic pronoun calls attention to Elihu who will answer these questions.
2 tn The Hebrew text adds, “with words,” but since this is obvious, for stylistic reasons it has not been included in the translation.
3 tn The preposition is taken here as a comparative min (מִן). The line could also read “that are high above you.” This idea has appeared in the speech of Eliphaz (22:12), Zophar (11:7ff.), and even Job (9:8ff.).
4 tn Heb “him” (also in v. 7); the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 tn See Job 7:20.
6 tn The phrase “affects only” is supplied in the translation of this nominal sentence.
7 tn Heb “and to [or for] a son of man, your righteousness.”