Job 21:15
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
Study Note
Study Note
The rhetorical question the wicked are quoted as asking — 'What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?' — is the logic of practical atheism: religion is evaluated on instrumental terms, and if the return is insufficient, it is abandoned. Job records this as the actual reasoning of those who flourish without serving God (verses 7-16), challenging the retribution theology of his friends who insist the wicked are invariably punished. The 'profit' language (mah betza'nu) for prayer represents the reduction of worship to transaction — exactly the 'disinterested piety' question that the adversary raises in Job 1:9 ('Doth Job fear God for nought?'). Malachi 3:14's complaint 'It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance?' preserves the same vocabuary of religious mercantilism.
Other Translations
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
What <FI>is<Fi> the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?'
What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
Cross References
And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not …
For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed …
Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, …
Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease …
I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of …
According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten …
Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; …
But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a …