Job 22

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?footnote a

3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

4Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?

5Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?

6For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.footnote b

7Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

8But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.footnote cfootnote d

9Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;

11Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.

12Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!footnote e

13And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?footnote f

14Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

15Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

16Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:footnote g

17Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?footnote h

18Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.

20Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.footnote ifootnote j

21Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.footnote k

22Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

23If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

24Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.footnote l

25Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.footnote mfootnote n

26For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

27Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

28Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

29When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.footnote o

30He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.footnote p

Eliphaz: Can a Man Be of Use to God?

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

2“Can a man be of use to God?Can even a wise man benefit Him? 3Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous?Does He profit if your ways are blameless?

4Is it for your reverence that He rebukes youand enters into judgment against you? 5Is not your wickedness great?Are not your iniquities endless? 6For you needlessly demanded security from your brothersand deprived the naked of their clothing. 7You gave no water to the wearyand withheld food from the famished, 8while the land belonged to a mighty man,and a man of honor lived on it. 9You sent widows away empty-handed,and the strength of the fatherless was crushed. 10Therefore snares surround you,and sudden peril terrifies you; 11it is so dark you cannot see,and a flood of water covers you.

12Is not God as high as the heavens?Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are! 13Yet you say: ‘What does God know?Does He judge through thick darkness? 14Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see usas He traverses the vault of heaven.footnote a’

15Will you stay on the ancient paththat wicked men have trod? 16They were snatched away before their time,and their foundations were swept away by a flood. 17They said to God, ‘Depart from us.What can the Almighty do to us?’ 18But it was He who filled their houses with good things;so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked. 19The righteous see it and are glad;the innocent mock them: 20‘Surely our foes are destroyed,and fire has consumed their excess.’

21Reconcile now and be at peace with Him;thereby good will come to you. 22Receive instruction from His mouth,and lay up His words in your heart. 23If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored.If you remove injustice from your tents 24and consign your gold to the dustand the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines, 25then the Almighty will be your goldand the finest silver for you. 26Surely then you will delight in the Almightyand lift up your face to God. 27You will pray to Him, and He will hear you,and you will fulfill your vows. 28Your decisions will be carried out,and light will shine on your ways. 29When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’then He will save the lowly. 30He will deliver even one who is not innocent,rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”