Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Themanite answered, and said:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
2 Can man be compared with God, even though he were of perfect knowledge?
Is it possible for a man to be of profit to God? No, for a man's wisdom is only of profit to himself.
3 What doth it profit God if thou be just? or what dost thou give him if thy way be unspotted?
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?
4 Shall he reprove thee for fear, and come with thee into judgment:
Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?
5 And not for thy manifold wickedness, and thy infinite iniquities?
Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.
6 For thou hast taken away the pledge of thy brethren without cause, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
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.
7 Thou hast not given water to the weary, thou hast withdrawn bread from the hungry.
You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.
8 In the strength of thy arm thou didst possess the land, and being the most mighty thou holdest it.
For it was the man with power who had the land, and the man with an honoured name who was living in it.
9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless thou hast broken in pieces.
You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father.
10 Therefore art thou surrounded with snares, and sudden fear troubleth thee.
For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.
11 And didst thou think that thou shouldst not see darkness, and that thou shouldst not be covered with the violence of overflowing waters?
Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.
12 Dost not thou think that God is higher than heaven, and is elevated above the height of the stars?
Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!
13 And thou sayst: What doth God know? and he judgeth as it were through a mist.
And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?
14 The clouds are his covert, and he doth not consider our things, and he walketh about the poles of heaven.
Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.
15 Dost thou desire to keep the path of ages, which wicked men have trodden?
Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?
16 Who were taken away before their time, and a flood hath overthrown their foundation.
Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:
17 Who said to God: Depart from us: and looked upon the Almighty as if he could do nothing:
Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?
18 Whereas he had filled their houses with good things: whose way of thinking be far from me.
Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!
19 The just shall see, and shall rejoice, and the innocent shall laugh them to scorn.
The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,
20 Is not their exaltation cut down, and hath not fire devoured the remnants of them?
Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.
21 Submit thyself then to him, and be at peace: and thereby thou shalt have the best fruits.
Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.
22 Receive the law of his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart.
Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.
23 If thou wilt return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, and shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacle.
If you come back to the Ruler of all, making yourself low before him; if you put evil far away from your tents;
24 He shall give for earth flint, and for flint torrents of gold.
And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
25 And the Almighty shall be against thy enemies, and silver shall be heaped together for thee.
Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;
26 Then shalt thou abound in delights in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face to God.
For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.
27 Thou shalt pray to him, and he will hear thee, and thou shalt pay vows.
You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.
28 Thou shalt decree a thing, and it I shall come to thee, and light shall shine in thy ways.
Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.
29 For he that hath been humbled, shall be in glory: and he that shall bow down his eyes, he shall be saved.
For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.
30 The innocent shall be saved, and he shall be saved by the cleanness of his hands.
He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.
