Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered 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 to God, as he that is wise may be profitable to himself?
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 pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? or is it gain to him, that you make your ways perfect?
4 Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?
Will he reprove you for fear of you? will he enter with you into judgment?
5 Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.
Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities infinite?
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 a pledge from your brother for nothing, 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.
You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld 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.
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honorable man dwelled 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.
You have 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 you, and sudden fear troubles you;
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 you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you.
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 height 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 you say, How does 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 sees not; and he walks in the circuit of heaven.
15 Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?
Have you marked 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:
Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood:
17 Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?
Which said to God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for 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 see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
20 Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.
Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumes.
21 Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.
Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come to you.
22 Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.
Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, and lay up 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 return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tabernacles.
24 And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
Then shall you lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
25 Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;
Yes, the Almighty shall be your defense, and you shall have plenty of silver.
26 For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.
For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall 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 shall make your prayer to him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows.
28 Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.
You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you: and the light shall shine on your ways.
29 For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.
When men are cast down, then you shall say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
30 He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.
He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of your hands.
