< Job 22 >

1 Then Eliphaz the Thaemanite answered and said,
And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: —
2 Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge?
To God is a man profitable, Because a wise man to himself is profitable?
3 For what matters it to the Lord, if thou wert blameless in [thy] works? or is it profitable that thou shouldest perfect thy way?
Is it a delight to the Mighty One That thou art righteous? is it gain, That thou makest perfect thy ways?
4 Wilt thou maintain and plead thine own cause? and will he enter into judgment with thee?
Because of thy reverence Doth He reason [with] thee? He entereth with thee into judgment:
5 Is not thy wickedness abundant, and thy sins innumerable?
Is not thy wickedness abundant? And there is no end to thine iniquities.
6 And thou hast taken security of thy brethren for nothing, and hast taken away the clothing of the naked.
For thou takest a pledge of thy brother for nought, And the garments of the naked Thou dost strip off.
7 Neither hast thou given water to the thirsty to drink, but hast taken away the morsel of the hungry.
Thou causest not the weary to drink water, And from the hungry thou withholdest bread.
8 And thou hast accepted the persons of some; and thou hast established those [that were already settled] on the earth.
As to the man of arm — he hath the earth, And the accepted of face — he dwelleth in it.
9 But thou hast sent widows away empty, and has afflicted orphans.
Widows thou hast sent away empty, And the arms of the fatherless are bruised.
10 Therefore snares have compassed thee, and disastrous war has troubled thee.
Therefore round about thee [are] snares, And trouble thee doth fear suddenly.
11 The light has proved darkness to thee, and water has covered thee on thy lying down.
Or darkness — thou dost not see, And abundance of waters doth cover thee.
12 Does not he that dwells in the high places observe? and has he not brought down the proud?
Is not God high [in] heaven? And see the summit of the stars, That they are high.
13 And thou has said, What does the Mighty One know? does he judge in the dark?
And thou hast said, 'What — hath God known? Through thickness doth He judge?
14 A cloud is his hiding-place, and he shall not be seen; and he passes through the circle of heaven.
Thick clouds [are] a secret place to Him, And He doth not see;' And the circle of the heavens He walketh habitually,
15 Wilt thou [not] mark the old way, which righteous men have trodden?
The path of the age dost thou observe, That men of iniquity have trodden?
16 who were seized before their time: their foundations [are as] an overflowing stream.
Who have been cut down unexpectedly, A flood is poured out on their foundation.
17 Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us?
Those saying to God, 'Turn aside from us,' And what doth the Mighty One to them?
18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel for the wicked is far from him.
And he hath filled their houses [with] good: (And the counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)
19 The righteous have seen [it], and laughed, and the blameless one has derided [them].
See do the righteous and they rejoice, And the innocent mocketh at them,
20 Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their [property].
'Surely our substance hath not been cut off, And their excellency hath fire consumed.'
21 Be firm, I pray thee, if thou canst endure; then thy fruit shall prosper.
Acquaint thyself, I pray thee, with Him, And be at peace, Thereby thine increase [is] good.
22 And receive a declaration from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
Receive, I pray thee, from His mouth a law, And set His sayings in thy heart.
23 And if thou shalt turn and humble thyself before the Lord, thou hast [thus] removed unrighteousness far from thy habitation.
If thou dost return unto the Mighty Thou art built up, Thou puttest iniquity far from thy tents.
24 Thou shalt lay up for thyself [treasure] in a heap on the rock; and Sophir [shall be] as the rock of the torrent.
So as to set on the dust a defence, And on a rock of the valleys a covering.
25 So the Almighty shall be thy helper from enemies, and he shall bring thee forth pure as silver that has been tried by fire.
And the Mighty hath been thy defence, And silver [is] strength to thee.
26 Then shalt thou have boldness before the Lord, looking up cheerfully to heaven.
For then on the Mighty thou delightest thyself, And dost lift up unto God thy face,
27 And he shall hear thee when thou prayest to him, and he shall grant thee [power] to pay thy vows.
Thou dost make supplication unto Him, And He doth hear thee, And thy vows thou completest.
28 And he shall establish to thee again a habitation of righteousness and there shall be light upon thy paths.
And thou decreest a saying, And it is established to thee, And on thy ways hath light shone.
29 Because thou hast humbled thyself; and thou shalt say, [Man] has behaved proudly, but he shall save him that is of lowly eyes.
For they have made low, And thou sayest, 'Lift up.' And the bowed down of eyes he saveth.
30 He shall deliver the innocent, and do thou save thyself by thy pure hands.
He delivereth the not innocent, Yea, he hath been delivered By the cleanness of thy hands.

< Job 22 >