Job 35:14-16

The interpretation and connexion of these verses is difficult. Job 35:14 might carry on the idea of Job 35:13,

13. Surely God will not hear vanity,

Neither will the Almighty regard it;

14. Much less when thou sayest, Thou seest him not,

The cause is before him and thou waitest for him.

God refuses to answer the cry which is vanity, not the voice of true religious trust; much less will He hear one who like Job complains that he cannot see Him (ch. Job 23:8 and often), who misses His righteous government in the world and charges Him with refusing to receive his just appeal (ch. Job 13:18 seq., Job 23:3; Job 31:35 seq.). There are objections to this interpretation, such as that much less whenis not a natural translation of the words in Job 35:14, though in the elliptical and rather strained style of Elihu this might not go for much. Or, Job 35:14 might stand apart from Job 35:13,

Yea, when thou sayest, Thou seest him not,

The cause is before him; therefore wait thou for him.

the meaning being that though God appears indifferent to the cry of the distressed (Job 35:9; Job 35:12) He is not unaware of the evil, the cause has come before Him, or, His judgment upon it is determined, and therefore He is to be waited for till He manifest Himself by His just interposition. Though the second person thoube used, Job's own case does not appear to be referred to; Elihu speaks generally, and Job is merely addressed as an example of persons who complain of God's indifference to wrong-doing.