Job 22:2

22:2 “Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit?

Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable? ¹ 

Job 34:9

34:9 For he says, ‘It does not profit a man

when he makes his delight with God.’ ² 

Job 35:3

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

and, ‘What do I gain by not sinning?’ ⁴ 

[22:2]  ¹ tn Some do not take this to be parallel to the first colon, taking this line as a statement, but the parallel expressions here suggest the question is repeated.

[34:9]  ² tn Gordis, however, takes this expression in the sense of “being in favor with God.”

[35:3]  ³ tn The referent of “you” is usually understood to be God.

[35:3]  ⁴ 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?”