1: 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.
9: "When times get bad, people cry out for help. They cry for relief from being kicked around,
10: But never give God a thought when things go well, when God puts spontaneous songs in their hearts,
11: When God sets out the entire creation as a science classroom, using birds and beasts to teach wisdom.
12: People are arrogantly indifferent to God--until, of course, they're in trouble, and then God is indifferent to them.
13: There's nothing behind such prayers except panic; the Almighty pays them no mind.
14: So why would he notice you just because you say you're tired of waiting to be heard,
15: Or waiting for him to get good and angry and do something about the world's problems?
16: "Job, you talk sheer nonsense--nonstop nonsense!"