Job 22

1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2 Can a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him?

Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

3 Is it any advantage to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways blameless?

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? or is it gain to him, that you make your ways perfect?

4 Is it for thy fear of Him that He reproveth thee, that He entereth with thee into judgment?

Will he reprove you for fear of you? will he enter with you into judgment?

5 Is not thy wickedness great? And are not thine iniquities without end?

Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities infinite?

6 For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

8 And as a mighty man, who hath the earth, and as a man of rank, who dwelleth in it,

But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.

9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden dread affrighted thee,

Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubles you;

11 Or darkness, that thou canst not see, and abundance of waters cover thee.

Or darkness, that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you.

12 Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the topmost of the stars, how high they are!

Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

13 And thou sayest: 'What doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud?

And you say, How does God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

14 Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven.'

Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he sees not; and he walks in the circuit of heaven.

15 Wilt thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?

Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

16 Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream;

Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood:

17 Who said unto God: 'Depart from us'; and what could the Almighty do unto them?

Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?

18 Yet He filled their houses with good things — but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19 The righteous saw it, and were glad, and the innocent laugh them to scorn:

The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.

20 'Surely their substance is cut off, and their abundance the fire hath consumed.'

Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumes.

21 Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby shall thine increase be good.

Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto you.

22 Receive, I pray thee, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in thy heart.

Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.

23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up — if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents,

If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tabernacles.

24 And lay thy treasure in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;

Then shall you lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

25 And the Almighty be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee;

Yea, the Almighty shall be your defence, and you shall have plenty of silver.

26 Then surely shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face unto God.

27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He will hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows;

You shall make your prayer unto him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows.

28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee, and light shall shine upon thy ways.

You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you: and the light shall shine upon your ways.

29 When they cast thee down, thou shalt say: 'There is lifting up'; for the humble person He saveth.

When men are cast down, then you shall say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

30 He delivereth him that is innocent, yea, thou shalt be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.

He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of your hands.