Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded and said,
And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: —
2 “How can anyone be of help to God? Even wise people are only helpful to themselves.
To God is a man profitable, Because a wise man to himself is profitable?
3 Is it any benefit to the Almighty if you're a good person? What does he gain if you do what's right?
Is it a delight to the Mighty One That thou art righteous? is it gain, That thou makest perfect thy ways?
4 Does he correct you and bring charges against you because of your reverence?
Because of thy reverence Doth He reason [with] thee? He entereth with thee into judgment:
5 No: it's because you're so wicked! Your sins are never-ending!
Is not thy wickedness abundant? And there is no end to thine iniquities.
6 For no reason at all you took your brother's clothing as a security for a debt, and left them stripped naked.
For thou takest a pledge of thy brother for nought, And the garments of the naked Thou dost strip off.
7 You refused water to the thirsty; you denied food to the hungry.
Thou causest not the weary to drink water, And from the hungry thou withholdest bread.
8 Is it because the land belongs to the powerful, and only the privileged have a right to live there?
As to the man of arm — he hath the earth, And the accepted of face — he dwelleth in it.
9 You have sent widows away empty-handed; you have crushed the outstretched arms of orphans, begging for help.
Widows thou hast sent away empty, And the arms of the fatherless are bruised.
10 That's why you're surrounded by traps to catch you, and why you suddenly panic in terror.
Therefore round about thee [are] snares, And trouble thee doth fear suddenly.
11 That's why it's so dark you cannot see, and why you feel like you're drowning.
Or darkness — thou dost not see, And abundance of waters doth cover thee.
12 Doesn't God live in highest heaven and looks down on even the highest stars?
Is not God high [in] heaven? And see the summit of the stars, That they are high.
13 But you ask, ‘What does God know? How can he see and judge what happens in down here in darkness?
And thou hast said, 'What — hath God known? Through thickness doth He judge?
14 Thick clouds cover him so he can't see anything as he walks around in heaven.’
Thick clouds [are] a secret place to Him, And He doth not see;' And the circle of the heavens He walketh habitually,
15 Why do you insist on following the traditional thinking of the wicked?
The path of the age dost thou observe, That men of iniquity have trodden?
16 They were taken before their time; all they had built was washed away.
Who have been cut down unexpectedly, A flood is poured out on their foundation.
17 They had told God, ‘Get lost! What can the Almighty do to us?’
Those saying to God, 'Turn aside from us,' And what doth the Mighty One to them?
18 And yet he was the one who had filled their homes with good things—but I don't accept their way of thinking.
And he hath filled their houses [with] good: (And the counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)
19 Those who do right rejoice when they see the destruction of the wicked, and the innocent mock them,
See do the righteous and they rejoice, And the innocent mocketh at them,
20 saying, ‘Our enemies are destroyed, and fire has burned up all that's left of them.’
'Surely our substance hath not been cut off, And their excellency hath fire consumed.'
21 Come back to God and be reconciled to him, and you'll be prosperous again.
Acquaint thyself, I pray thee, with Him, And be at peace, Thereby thine increase [is] good.
22 Listen to what he tells you and keep his words in mind.
Receive, I pray thee, from His mouth a law, And set His sayings in thy heart.
23 If you return to God you will be restored. If you renounce your sinful life
If thou dost return unto the Mighty Thou art built up, Thou puttest iniquity far from thy tents.
24 and give up your love of money and desire for possessions,
So as to set on the dust a defence, And on a rock of the valleys a covering.
25 then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.
And the Mighty hath been thy defence, And silver [is] strength to thee.
26 Then you will find delight in the Almighty, and be able to face him without feeling ashamed.
For then on the Mighty thou delightest thyself, And dost lift up unto God thy face,
27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will keep your promises to him.
Thou dost make supplication unto Him, And He doth hear thee, And thy vows thou completest.
28 Whatever you decide to do will be successful, and wherever you go, light will shine on you.
And thou decreest a saying, And it is established to thee, And on thy ways hath light shone.
29 When others are humbled, and you say, ‘please help them,’ God will save them.
For they have made low, And thou sayest, 'Lift up.' And the bowed down of eyes he saveth.
30 God saves those who are innocent, and you will be saved if you do what is right.”
He delivereth the not innocent, Yea, he hath been delivered By the cleanness of thy hands.
