Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
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 a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him?
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?
Is it any advantage to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways blameless?
4 Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?
Is it for thy fear of Him that He reproveth thee, that He entereth with thee into judgment?
5 Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.
Is not thy wickedness great? And are not thine iniquities without end?
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 thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the 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.
Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread 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.
And as a mighty man, who hath the earth, and as a man of rank, who dwelleth in it,
9 You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father.
Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.
Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden dread affrighted thee,
11 Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.
Or darkness, that thou canst not see, and abundance of waters cover thee.
12 Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!
Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the topmost of the stars, how high they are!
13 And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?
And thou sayest: 'What doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud?
14 Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.
Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven.'
15 Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?
Wilt thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16 Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:
Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream;
17 Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?
Who said unto God: 'Depart from us'; and what could the Almighty do unto them?
18 Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!
Yet He filled their houses with good things — but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19 The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,
The righteous saw it, and were glad, and the innocent laugh them to scorn:
20 Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.
'Surely their substance is cut off, and their abundance the fire hath consumed.'
21 Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.
Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby shall thine increase be good.
22 Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.
Receive, I pray thee, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in thy 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 thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up — if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents,
24 And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
And lay thy treasure in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;
25 Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;
And the Almighty be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee;
26 For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.
Then surely shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
27 You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.
Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He will hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows;
28 Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee, and light shall shine upon thy ways.
29 For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.
When they cast thee down, thou shalt say: 'There is lifting up'; for the humble person He saveth.
30 He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.
He delivereth him that is innocent, yea, thou shalt be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.
