Elihu Argues Human Conduct Affects People, Not God's Need

Elihu restates the profit question and points at the sky

He asks whether Job has counted this a right, that Job has said, My righteousness is more than God's, and what advantage will it be to me, what profit shall I have if I be cleansed from my sin? He tells Job to look to the heavens and behold the clouds, which are higher than he.

Job's actual question was closer to: what is the point of integrity in a world where the wicked die fat? Elihu hears a claim to outrank God.

Sin hurts people; righteousness helps people; God is not the needy party

If Job sins, what does he do against God? If his transgressions are multiplied, what does he do to God? If he is righteous, what does he give God? What does God receive from Job's hand? The wickedness of a man is upon another man, and the righteousness of a man upon the son of man.

Neighbor-impact is a true ethical claim, and it echoes Eliphaz's opening in chapter 22 without being identical to it. Eliphaz used God's independence to clear space for invented crimes. Elihu uses it to say Job's case cannot put God in the wrong. Both skip something Job knows: if God is judge of the earth, the groaning of the wounded is God's concern even if God does not 'need' Job's virtue as food.