Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Thaemanite answered and said,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge?
“Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
3 For what matters it to the Lord, if you were blameless in [your] works? or is it profitable that you should perfect your way?
Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?
4 Will you maintain and plead your own cause? and will he enter into judgement with you?
Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?
5 Is not your wickedness abundant, and your sins innumerable?
Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?
6 And you have taken security of your brethren for nothing, and have taken away the clothing of the naked.
For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.
7 Neither have you given water to the thirsty to drink, but have taken away the morsel of the hungry.
You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,
8 And you have accepted the persons of some; and you have established those [that were already settled] on the earth.
while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it.
9 But you have sent widows away empty, and has afflicted orphans.
You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
10 Therefore snares have compassed you, and disastrous war has troubled you.
Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;
11 The light has proved darkness to you, and water has covered you on your lying down.
it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
12 Does not he that dwells in the high places observe? and has he not brought down the proud?
Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!
13 And you has said, What does the Mighty One know? does he judge in the dark?
Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?
14 A cloud is his hiding-place, and he shall not be seen; and he passes through the circle of heaven.
Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’
15 Will you [not] mark the old way, which righteous men have trodden?
Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?
16 who were seized before their time: their foundations [are as] an overflowing stream.
They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.
17 Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us?
They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’
18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel for the wicked is far from him.
But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
19 The righteous have seen [it], and laughed, and the blameless one has derided [them].
The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them:
20 Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their [property].
‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’
21 Be firm, I pray you, if you can endure; then your fruit shall prosper.
Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
22 And receive a declaration from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
23 And if you shall turn and humble yourself before the Lord, you have [thus] removed unrighteousness far from your habitation.
If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents
24 You shall lay up for yourself [treasure] in a heap on the rock; and Sophir [shall be] as the rock of the torrent.
and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,
25 So the Almighty shall be your helper from enemies, and he shall bring you forth pure as silver that has been tried by fire.
then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.
26 Then shall you have boldness before the Lord, looking up cheerfully to heaven.
Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
27 And he shall hear you when you pray to him, and he shall grant you [power] to pay your vows.
You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
28 And he shall establish to you again a habitation of righteousness and there shall be light upon your paths.
Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.
29 Because you have humbled yourself; and you shall say, [Man] has behaved proudly, but he shall save him that is of lowly eyes.
When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.
30 He shall deliver the innocent, and do you save yourself by your pure hands.
He will deliver even one who is not innocent, rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”
