Job 22
1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: —
Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
2 To God is a man profitable, Because a wise man to himself is profitable?
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 thou art righteous? is it gain, That thou makest perfect thy ways?
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 thy reverence Doth He reason [with] thee? He entereth with thee into judgment:
Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?
5 Is not thy wickedness abundant? And there is no end to thine iniquities.
Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.
6 For thou takest a pledge of thy brother for nought, And the garments of the naked Thou dost strip off.
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 Thou causest not the weary to drink water, And from the hungry thou withholdest bread.
You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.
8 As to the man of arm — he hath the earth, And the accepted of face — he dwelleth 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 Widows thou hast sent 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 round about thee [are] snares, And trouble thee doth fear suddenly.
For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.
11 Or darkness — thou dost not see, And abundance of waters doth cover thee.
Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.
12 Is not God high [in] heaven? 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 thou hast said, 'What — hath God known? Through thickness doth He judge?
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 doth not see;' And the circle of the heavens He walketh habitually,
Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.
15 The path of the age dost thou observe, 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 doth the Mighty One 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 hath filled their houses [with] good: (And the counsel of the wicked Hath 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 See do the righteous and they rejoice, And the innocent mocketh at them,
The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,
20 'Surely our substance hath not been cut off, And their excellency hath fire consumed.'
Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.
21 Acquaint thyself, I pray thee, with Him, And be at peace, Thereby thine 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 Receive, I pray thee, from His mouth a law, And set His sayings in thy heart.
Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.
23 If thou dost return unto the Mighty Thou art built up, Thou puttest iniquity far from thy 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 on the dust a defence, And on a rock of the valleys a covering.
And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
25 And the Mighty hath been thy defence, And silver [is] strength to thee.
Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;
26 For then on the Mighty thou delightest thyself, And dost lift up unto God thy face,
For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.
27 Thou dost make supplication unto Him, And He doth hear thee, And thy vows thou completest.
You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.
28 And thou decreest a saying, And it is established to thee, And on thy ways hath light shone.
Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.
29 For they have made low, And thou sayest, 'Lift up.' And the bowed down of eyes he saveth.
For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.
30 He delivereth the not innocent, Yea, he hath been delivered By the cleanness of thy hands.
He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.
