Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
Then Eliphaz the Thaemanite answered and said,
2 “Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge?
3 Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?
For what matters it to the Lord, if thou wert blameless in [thy] works? or is it profitable that thou shouldest perfect thy way?
4 Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?
Wilt thou maintain and plead thine own cause? and will he enter into judgment with thee?
5 Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?
Is not thy wickedness abundant, and thy sins innumerable?
6 For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.
And thou hast taken security of thy brethren for nothing, and hast taken away the clothing of the naked.
7 You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,
Neither hast thou given water to the thirsty to drink, but hast taken away the morsel of the hungry.
8 while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it.
And thou hast accepted the persons of some; and thou hast established those [that were already settled] on the earth.
9 You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
But thou hast sent widows away empty, and has afflicted orphans.
10 Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;
Therefore snares have compassed thee, and disastrous war has troubled thee.
11 it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
The light has proved darkness to thee, and water has covered thee on thy lying down.
12 Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!
Does not he that dwells in the high places observe? and has he not brought down the proud?
13 Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?
And thou has said, What does the Mighty One know? does he judge in the dark?
14 Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’
A cloud is his hiding-place, and he shall not be seen; and he passes through the circle of heaven.
15 Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?
Wilt thou [not] mark the old way, which righteous men have trodden?
16 They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.
who were seized before their time: their foundations [are as] an overflowing stream.
17 They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’
Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us?
18 But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel for the wicked is far from him.
19 The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them:
The righteous have seen [it], and laughed, and the blameless one has derided [them].
20 ‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’
Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their [property].
21 Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
Be firm, I pray thee, if thou canst endure; then thy fruit shall prosper.
22 Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
And receive a declaration from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents
And if thou shalt turn and humble thyself before the Lord, thou hast [thus] removed unrighteousness far from thy habitation.
24 and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,
Thou shalt lay up for thyself [treasure] in a heap on the rock; and Sophir [shall be] as the rock of the torrent.
25 then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.
So the Almighty shall be thy helper from enemies, and he shall bring thee forth pure as silver that has been tried by fire.
26 Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
Then shalt thou have boldness before the Lord, looking up cheerfully to heaven.
27 You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
And he shall hear thee when thou prayest to him, and he shall grant thee [power] to pay thy vows.
28 Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.
And he shall establish to thee again a habitation of righteousness and there shall be light upon thy paths.
29 When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.
Because thou hast humbled thyself; and thou shalt say, [Man] has behaved proudly, but he shall save him that is of lowly eyes.
30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent, rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”
He shall deliver the innocent, and do thou save thyself by thy pure hands.
