Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded and said,
2 “Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
“How can anyone be of help to God? Even wise people are only helpful to themselves.
3 Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?
Is it any benefit to the Almighty if you're a good person? What does he gain if you do what's right?
4 Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?
Does he correct you and bring charges against you because of your reverence?
5 Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?
No: it's because you're so wicked! Your sins are never-ending!
6 For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.
For no reason at all you took your brother's clothing as a security for a debt, and left them stripped naked.
7 You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,
You refused water to the thirsty; you denied food to the hungry.
8 while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it.
Is it because the land belongs to the powerful, and only the privileged have a right to live there?
9 You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
You have sent widows away empty-handed; you have crushed the outstretched arms of orphans, begging for help.
10 Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;
That's why you're surrounded by traps to catch you, and why you suddenly panic in terror.
11 it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
That's why it's so dark you cannot see, and why you feel like you're drowning.
12 Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!
Doesn't God live in highest heaven and looks down on even the highest stars?
13 Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?
But you ask, ‘What does God know? How can he see and judge what happens in down here in darkness?
14 Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’
Thick clouds cover him so he can't see anything as he walks around in heaven.’
15 Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?
Why do you insist on following the traditional thinking of the wicked?
16 They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.
They were taken before their time; all they had built was washed away.
17 They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’
They had told God, ‘Get lost! What can the Almighty do to us?’
18 But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
And yet he was the one who had filled their homes with good things—but I don't accept their way of thinking.
19 The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them:
Those who do right rejoice when they see the destruction of the wicked, and the innocent mock them,
20 ‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’
saying, ‘Our enemies are destroyed, and fire has burned up all that's left of them.’
21 Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
Come back to God and be reconciled to him, and you'll be prosperous again.
22 Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
Listen to what he tells you and keep his words in mind.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents
If you return to God you will be restored. If you renounce your sinful life
24 and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,
and give up your love of money and desire for possessions,
25 then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.
then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.
26 Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
Then you will find delight in the Almighty, and be able to face him without feeling ashamed.
27 You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will keep your promises to him.
28 Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.
Whatever you decide to do will be successful, and wherever you go, light will shine on you.
29 When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.
When others are humbled, and you say, ‘please help them,’ God will save them.
30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent, rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”
God saves those who are innocent, and you will be saved if you do what is right.”
