Job 22
1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answers and says:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
2 “Is a man profitable to God, Because a wise man is profitable to himself?
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 a delight to the Mighty One That you are righteous? Is it gain, That you make your ways perfect?
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 Because of your reverence Does He reason [with] you? He enters with you into judgment:
Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?
5 Is your wickedness not abundant? And there is no end to your iniquities.
Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.
6 For you take a pledge of your brother for nothing, And you strip off the garments 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 You do not cause the weary to drink water, And you withhold bread from the hungry.
You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.
8 As for the man of arm—he has the earth, And the accepted of face—he dwells 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 You have sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless are bruised.
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] all around you, And sudden fear troubles you.
For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.
11 Or darkness—you do not see, And abundance of waters covers you.
Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.
12 Is God not high [in] the heavens? And see the summit of the stars, That they are high.
Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!
13 And you have said, How has God known? Does He judge through thickness?
And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?
14 Thick clouds [are] a secret place to Him, And He does not see, And He habitually walks [above] the circle of the heavens.
Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.
15 Do you observe the path of the age, That men of iniquity have trodden,
Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?
16 Who have been cut down unexpectedly? A flood is poured out on their foundation.
Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:
17 Those saying to God, Turn aside from us, And what does the Mighty One do to them?
Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?
18 And He has filled their houses [with] good (And the counsel of the wicked Has been far 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 see and they rejoice, And the innocent mocks at them:
The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,
20 Surely our substance has not been cut off, And fire has consumed their excellence.
Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.
21 Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace, Thereby your increase [is] good.
Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.
22 Please receive a law from His mouth, And set His sayings in your heart.
Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.
23 If you return to the Mighty you are built up, You put iniquity far from your tents.
If you come back to the Ruler of all, making yourself low before him; if you put evil far away from your tents;
24 So as to set a defense on the dust, And a covering on a rock of the valleys.
And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
25 And the Mighty has been your defense, And silver [is] strength to you.
Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;
26 For then you delight yourself on the Mighty, And lift up your face to God,
For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.
27 You make supplication to Him, And He hears you, And you complete your vows.
You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.
28 And you decree a saying, And it is established to you, And light has shone on your ways.
Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.
29 For they have made low, And you say, Lift up. And He saves the bowed down of eyes.
For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.
30 He delivers the one [who is] not innocent, Indeed, he has been delivered By the cleanness of your hands.”
He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.
