Job 22

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,

2 "Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise 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 any pleasure to Shaddai, that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him, 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 Is it for your piety that he reproves you, that 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 Isn't your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.

Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.

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

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 haven't given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld 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 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived 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 have been broken.

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 around you. Sudden fear troubles you,

For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.

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

Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.

12 "Isn't God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the stars, how high they are.

Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!

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

And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?

14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn't see. He walks on the vault of the sky.'

Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.

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

Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?

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

Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:

17 who said to God, 'Depart from us;' and, 'What can Shaddai do for us?'

Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?

18 Yet he filled their houses with good things, but the counsel of the wicked is 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 it, and are glad. The innocent ridicule them,

The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,

20 saying, 'Surely those who rose up against us are cut off. The fire has consumed the remnant of them.'

Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.

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

Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.

22 Please receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words 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 Shaddai, you shall be built up, if you put away unrighteousness 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 Lay your treasure in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.

And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;

25 Shaddai will be your treasure, and precious silver to you.

Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;

26 For then you will delight yourself in Shaddai, and shall 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 shall make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You shall pay your vows.

You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.

28 And you will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.

Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.

29 When they cast down, you shall say, 'be lifted up.' And he will save the humble.

For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.

30 He will even deliver him who is not innocent. Yes, he shall be delivered through 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.