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 you were blameless in [your] works? or is it profitable that you should perfect your way?

Is it a delight to the Mighty One That thou art righteous? is it gain, That thou makest perfect thy ways?

4 Will you maintain and plead your own cause? and will he enter into judgement with you?

Because of thy reverence Doth He reason [with] thee? He entereth with thee into judgment:

5 Is not your wickedness abundant, and your sins innumerable?

Is not thy wickedness abundant? And there is no end to thine iniquities.

6 And you have taken security of your brethren for nothing, and have 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 have you given water to the thirsty to drink, but have taken away the morsel of the hungry.

Thou causest not the weary to drink water, And from the hungry thou withholdest bread.

8 And you have accepted the persons of some; and you have 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 you have 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 you, and disastrous war has troubled you.

Therefore round about thee [are] snares, And trouble thee doth fear suddenly.

11 The light has proved darkness to you, and water has covered you on your 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 you 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 Will you [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 you, if you can endure; then your 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 your heart.

Receive, I pray thee, from His mouth a law, And set His sayings in thy heart.

23 And if you shall turn and humble yourself before the Lord, you have [thus] removed unrighteousness far from your habitation.

If thou dost return unto the Mighty Thou art built up, Thou puttest iniquity far from thy 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.

So as to set on the dust a defence, And on a rock of the valleys a covering.

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.

And the Mighty hath been thy defence, And silver [is] strength to thee.

26 Then shall you 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 you when you pray to him, and he shall grant you [power] to pay your vows.

Thou dost make supplication unto Him, And He doth hear thee, And thy vows thou completest.

28 And he shall establish to you again a habitation of righteousness and there shall be light upon your paths.

And thou decreest a saying, And it is established to thee, And on thy ways hath light shone.

29 Because you have humbled yourself; and you shall 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 you save yourself by your pure hands.

He delivereth the not innocent, Yea, he hath been delivered By the cleanness of thy hands.