Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, and sayde,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
2 May a man be profitable vnto God, as he that is wise, may be profitable to himselfe?
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 Is it any thing vnto the Almightie, that thou art righteous? or is it profitable to him, that thou makest thy wayes vpright?
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 Is it for feare of thee that he will accuse thee? or go with thee into iudgement?
Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?
5 Is not thy wickednes great, and thine iniquities innumerable?
Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.
6 For thou hast taken the pledge from thy brother for nought, and spoyled the clothes of the naked.
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 To such as were wearie, thou hast not giuen water to drinke, and hast withdrawen bread from the hungrie.
You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.
8 But the mightie man had the earth, and he that was in autoritie, dwelt in 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 cast out widowes emptie, and the armes of the fatherles were broken.
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 snares are round about thee, and feare shall suddenly trouble thee:
For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.
11 Or darkenes that thou shouldest not see, and abundance of waters shall couer thee.
Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.
12 Is not God on hie in the heauen? and behold the height of the starres how hie they are.
Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!
13 But thou sayest, How should God know? can he iudge through the darke cloude?
And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?
14 The cloudes hide him that he can not see, and he walketh in the circle of heauen.
Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.
15 Hast thou marked the way of the worlde, wherein wicked men haue walked?
Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?
16 Which were cut downe before the time, whose foundation was as a riuer that ouerflowed:
Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:
17 Which sayd vnto God, Depart from vs, and asked what the Almightie could do for them.
Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?
18 Yet hee filled their houses with good things: but let the counsell of the wicked be farre from me.
Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!
19 The righteous shall see them, and shall reioyce, and the innocent shall laugh them to scorne.
The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,
20 Surely our substance is hid: but the fire hath deuoured the remnant of them.
Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.
21 Therefore acquaint thy selfe, I pray thee, with him, and make peace: thereby thou shalt haue prosperitie.
Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.
22 Receiue, I pray thee, the law of his mouth, and lay vp his words in thine heart.
Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.
23 If thou returne to the Almightie, thou shalt be buylt vp, and thou shalt put iniquitie farre 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 Thou shalt lay vp golde for dust, and the gold of Ophir, as the flintes of the riuers.
And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
25 Yea, the Almightie shalbe thy defence, and thou shalt haue plentie of siluer.
Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;
26 And thou shalt then delite in the Almightie, and lift vp thy face vnto God.
For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.
27 Thou shalt make thy praier vnto him, and he shall heare thee, and thou shalt render thy vowes.
You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.
28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and he shall establish it vnto thee, and the light shall shine vpon thy wayes.
Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.
29 When others are cast downe, then shalt thou say, I am lifted vp: and God shall saue the humble person.
For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.
30 The innocent shall deliuer the yland, and it shalbe preserued by the purenes of thine hands.
He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.
