Job 22

1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

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

“Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to 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 does it benefit 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?

Is it for your piety that he reproves you, that he enters with you into judgment?

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

Isn’t your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.

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

For you have taken pledges 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 haven’t 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. The honorable man, he lived 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 around you. Sudden fear troubles you,

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

or darkness, so that you can not see, and floods of waters cover you.

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

“Isn’t God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the stars, how high they are!

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

You say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

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, so that he doesn’t see. He walks on the vault of the sky.’

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

Will you keep the old way, which wicked men have trodden,

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

who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream,

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

who said to God, ‘Depart from us!’ and, ‘What can the Almighty do for us?’

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. The innocent ridicule them,

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

saying, ‘Surely those who rose up against us are cut off. The fire has consumed their remnant.’

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

“Acquaint yourself with him now, and be at peace. By it, good will come to you.

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

Please receive instruction 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 will be built up, if you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.

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

Lay your treasure in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.

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

The Almighty will be your treasure, and precious silver to you.

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

For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and will lift up your face to God.

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

You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You will 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 will also decree a thing, and it will be established to you. Light will shine on your ways.

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

When they cast down, you will say, ‘be lifted up.’ He will save the humble person.

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

He will even deliver him who is not innocent. Yes, he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”