Job 22

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

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

“Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous? Is it gain to him if you make your 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 because of your reverence for him that he rebukes you and takes you to judgment?

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

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

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

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

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

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

You haven’t given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

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

But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it.

9 You have sent widows away empty; 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 all around you, and sudden fear troubles you.

Therefore snares are around you. Sudden fear troubles you,

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

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

12 Is not God in the heights of heaven? Look at the height 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 You say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

17 those who said to God, 'Depart from us'; those who said, 'What can the Almighty do to us?'

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

18 Yet he filled their houses with good things; the plans of wicked people are far from me.

Yet he filled their houses with good things, but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

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

The righteous see it, and are glad. The innocent ridicule them,

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

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

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

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

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

Please receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.

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

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

24 Lay your treasure down in the dust, 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 will be your treasure, precious silver to you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

You will also decree a thing, and it will be established to you. Light will shine on your ways.

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

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

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

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