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, then, profit God? Behold, the wise man profiteth 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 a pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous; Or a gain to him, that thou walkest uprightly?
4 Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?
Will he contend with thee because he feareth thee? Will he enter with thee into judgment?
5 Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.
Hath not thy wickedness been great? Have not thine iniquities been numberless?
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 a pledge from thy brother unjustly, And stripped the poor 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 given the weary no water to drink, And 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.
But the man of power, his was the land, And the honorable man dwelt 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 broken the arms of the fatherless.
10 For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.
Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden fear confoundeth 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, through which thou canst not see, And floods of water 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 stars, how high they are!
13 And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?
Hence thou sayest, “What doth God know? Can he govern behind the thick darkness?
14 Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.
Dark clouds are a veil to him, and he cannot see; And he walketh upon the arch of heaven.”
15 Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?
Wilt thou take 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 cut down before their time, And whose foundations were swept away by a flood?
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 can the Almighty do to us?”
18 Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!
And yet he filled their houses with good things!—Far from me be the counsel of the wicked!
19 The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,
The righteous see their fate, and rejoice; And the innocent hold them in derision.
20 Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.
“Truly our adversary is destroyed, And fire hath consumed his abundance!”
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: Thus shall prosperity return to thee.
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 iniquity from thy tent.
24 And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
Cast to the dust thy gold, And the gold of Ophir to the stones of the brook:
25 Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;
Then shall the Almighty be thy gold, Yea, treasures of silver unto thee;
26 For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.
For then shalt thou have 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 pray to him, and he shall hear thee, And thou shalt perform thy vows.
28 Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.
The purpose which thou formest shall prosper with 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 men are cast down, thou shalt say, “There lifting up!” And the humble person he will save.
30 He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.
He will deliver even him that is not innocent. The purity of thy hands shall save him.
