Job 22

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,

Then Eliphaz the Themanite responded by saying:

2 Is it possible for a man to be of profit to God? No, for a man's wisdom is only of profit to himself.

Can man be compared with God, even if he were perfect in knowledge?

3 Is it of any interest to the Ruler of all that you are upright? or is it of use to him that your ways are without sin?

What advantage is it to God, if you were just? Or what do you provide for him, if your way should be immaculate?

4 Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?

Will he reprove you and take you to judgment for being afraid,

5 Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.

and not because of your many evil deeds and your infinite unfairness?

6 For you have taken your brother's goods when he was not in your debt, and have taken away the clothing of those who have need of it.

For you have taken away the collateral of your brothers without cause, and stripped them naked of their clothing.

7 You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.

You have not given water to the weary; you have taken bread away from the hungry.

8 For it was the man with power who had the land, and the man with an honoured name who was living in it.

By the strength of your arm, you took possession of the land, and you retain it by being the strongest.

9 You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father.

You have sent widows away empty, and you have crushed the shoulders of orphans.

10 For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.

Because of this, you are surrounded by traps, and unexpected fears will disturb you.

11 Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.

And did you think that you would not see darkness and that you were not to be overwhelmed by the onrush of overflowing waters?

12 Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!

Have you not considered that God is higher than the heavens and is lifted above the height of the stars?

13 And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?

And you say: “Well, what does God know?” and, “He judges, as if through a fog,”

14 Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.

and, “The clouds are his hiding-place,” and, “He does not examine us closely,” and, “He makes his rounds at the limits of the heavens.”

15 Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?

Do you not want to tend the path of the ages, which wicked men have spurned?

16 Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:

These were taken away before their time, and a flood overthrew their foundation.

17 Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?

They said to God, “Withdraw from us,” and they treated the Almighty as if he could do nothing,

18 Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!

though he had filled their houses with good things. May their way of thinking be far from me.

19 The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,

The just will see and will rejoice, and the innocent will mock them.

20 Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.

Has not their haughtiness been cut down, and has not fire devoured the remnants of them?

21 Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.

So, repose yourself with him and be at peace, and, in this way, you will have the best fruits.

22 Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.

Accept the law from his mouth, and place his words in your heart.

23 If you come back to the Ruler of all, making yourself low before him; if you put evil far away from your tents;

If you will return to the Almighty, you will be rebuilt, and you will put sinfulness far from your tabernacle.

24 And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;

He will give you stone in place of dirt, and torrents of gold in place of stone.

25 Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;

And the Almighty will be against your enemies, and silver will be gathered together for you.

26 For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.

Then will you flock together in delight over the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to God.

27 You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.

You will plead with him, and he will listen to you, and you will pay your vows.

28 Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.

You will decide on something, and it will come to you, and the light will shine in your ways.

29 For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.

For he who had been humbled, will be in glory; and he who will lower his eyes, will be the one saved.

30 He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.

The innocent will be saved, and he will be saved with purity in his hands.