Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
2 Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
Can a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto 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 advantage to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways blameless?
4 Will he reprove you for fear of you? will he enter with you into judgment?
Is it for thy fear of Him that He reproveth thee, that He entereth with thee into judgment?
5 Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities infinite?
Is not thy wickedness great? And are not thine iniquities without end?
6 For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.
And as a mighty man, who hath the earth, and as a man of rank, who dwelleth in it,
9 You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubles you;
Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden dread affrighted thee,
11 Or darkness, that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you.
Or darkness, that thou canst not see, and abundance of waters cover thee.
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 height of heaven? And behold the topmost of the stars, how high they are!
13 And you say, How does God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?
And thou sayest: 'What doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud?
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, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven.'
15 Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
Wilt thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood:
Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream;
17 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
Who said unto God: 'Depart from us'; and what could the Almighty do unto 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 see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
The righteous saw it, and were glad, and the innocent laugh them to scorn:
20 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumes.
'Surely their substance is cut off, and their abundance the fire hath consumed.'
21 Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto you.
Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby shall thine increase be good.
22 Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
Receive, I pray thee, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in thy heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tabernacles.
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up — if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents,
24 Then shall you lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
And lay thy treasure in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;
25 Yea, the Almighty shall be your defence, and you shall have plenty of silver.
And the Almighty be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee;
26 For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face unto God.
Then surely shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
27 You shall make your prayer unto him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows.
Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He will hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows;
28 You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you: and the light shall shine upon your ways.
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee, and light shall shine upon thy ways.
29 When men are cast down, then you shall say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
When they cast thee down, thou shalt say: 'There is lifting up'; for the humble person He saveth.
30 He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of your hands.
He delivereth him that is innocent, yea, thou shalt be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.
