Job 22

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

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

“Can a man be useful to God? Can a wise man be useful to him?

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

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous? Is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?

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

Is it because of your reverence for him that he rebukes you and takes you to judgment?

5 Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities infinite?

Is not your wickedness great? Is there no end to your iniquities?

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

For you have demanded guarantee of a loan from your brother for no reason, and you have stripped away clothing from the naked.

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

You have not given water to weary people to drink; you have withheld bread from hungry people

8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honorable man dwelled in it.

although you, a mighty man, possessed the earth, although you, an honored man, lived in it.

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

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

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

Therefore, snares are all around you, and sudden fear troubles you.

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

There is darkness, so that you cannot see; an abundance of waters covers you.

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

Is not God in the heights of heaven? Look at the height of the stars, how high they are!

13 And you say, How does 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 sees not; and he walks in the circuit of heaven.

Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he does not see us; he walks on the vault of heaven.'

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

Will you keep the old way that wicked men have walked—

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

those who were snatched away before their time, those whose foundations have washed away like a river,

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

those who said to God, 'Depart from us'; those who said, 'What can the Almighty do to 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; the plans of wicked people are far from me.

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

Righteous people see their fate and are glad; innocent people laugh them to scorn.

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

They say, 'Surely those who rose up against us are cut off; fire has consumed their possessions.'

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

Now agree with God and be at peace with him; in that way, good will come to you.

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

Receive, I beg you, instruction from his mouth; store up his words in your heart.

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

If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up, if you put unrighteousness far away from your tents.

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

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

25 Yes, the Almighty shall be your defense, and you shall have plenty of silver.

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

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

For then you will take pleasure in the Almighty; you will lift up your face to God.

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

You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you; you will pay your vows to him.

28 You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you: and the light shall shine on your ways.

You will also decree anything, and it will be confirmed for you; light will shine on your paths.

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

God humbles a proud man, and he saves the one with lowered eyes.

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

He will rescue even the man who is not innocent; who will be rescued through the cleanness of your hands.”