Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
Then responded 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.
Unto GOD, can a man act as friend? Surely a discreet man befriendeth 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 shouldst be righteous? or any profit, that thou shouldst be blameless in thy ways?
4 Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?
Is it, for thy reverence, that he will accuse thee? will enter 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, without end, [are not] thine iniquities?
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.
Surely then hast been wont to put thy brother in pledge, for nothing, and, the garments of the ill-clad, hast thou stripped off:
7 You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.
No water—to the weary, hast thou given to drink, and, from the hungry, thou hast withheld bread:
8 For it was the man with power who had the land, and the man with an honoured name who was living in it.
A man of might, to him, pertaineth the land, and, the favorite, dwelleth therein:
9 You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father.
Widows, thou hast sent away empty, and, the arms of the fatherless, thou dost crush.
10 For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.
For this cause, round about thee, are snares, and a dread startleth thee suddenly;
11 Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.
Or darkness—thou canst not see, and, a flood of waters, covereth thee.
12 Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!
Is not, GOD, [in] the height of the heavens? Behold, then, the head of the stars, that they are high.
13 And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?
Wilt thou say then, What doth GOD know? Out through a thick cloud, can he judge?
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, or, the vault of the heavens, doth he walk?
15 Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?
The path of the ancient time, wilt thou mark, which the men of iniquity trod?
16 Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:
Who were snatched away before the time, and, a stream, washed away their foundation?
17 Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?
Who had been saying unto GOD, Depart from us! and—What can the Almighty do for himself?
18 Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!
Yet, he, had filled their houses with good! The counsel of the lawless, then, 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 shall see and rejoice, and, the innocent, shall laugh them to scorn:
20 Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.
If our assailants do not vanish, then, their abundance, a fire consumeth!
21 Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.
Shew thyself to be one with him—I pray thee—and prosper, thereby, shall there come on thee blessing.
22 Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.
Accept, I beseech thee, from his mouth—instruction, —and lay up his sayings 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 unto the Almighty and submit thyself, if thou far remove perversity from thy tent,
24 And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
Then lay up, in the dust, precious ore, and, among the stones of the torrent-beds, fine gold:
25 Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;
So shall, the Almighty, become, thy precious ores, yea glittering 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, in the Almighty, shalt thou take exquisite delight, and shalt lift up—unto GOD—thy face;
27 You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.
Thou shalt make entreaty unto him, and he will hear thee, and, thy vows, shalt thou pay;
28 Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.
And thou shalt decree a purpose, and it shall be fulfilled unto thee, and, upon thy ways, shall have shone a light;
29 For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.
When men cast themselves down, then thou shalt say: Up! And, him that is of downcast eyes, shall he save;
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 innocent, and thou shalt escape by the pureness of thy hands.
