Job 22

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, and said,

Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:

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

Can a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him?

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou are righteous? Or is it gain to him that thou make thy ways perfect?

Is it any advantage to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways blameless?

4 Is it for thy fear of him that he reproves thee, that he enters with thee into judgment?

Is it for thy fear of Him that He reproveth thee, that He entereth with thee into judgment?

5 Is not thy wickedness great? Neither is there any end to thine iniquities.

Is not thy wickedness great? And are not thine iniquities without end?

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

For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

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

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

8 But as for the mighty man, he had the land. And the honorable man, he dwelt in it.

And as a mighty man, who hath the earth, and as a man of rank, who dwelleth in it,

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

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

10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubles thee,

Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden dread affrighted thee,

11 or darkness, so that thou cannot see, and abundance of waters cover thee.

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

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

Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the topmost of the stars, how high they are!

13 And thou say, What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

And thou sayest: 'What doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud?

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

Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven.'

15 Will thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?

Wilt thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?

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

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

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

Who said unto God: 'Depart from us'; and what could the Almighty do unto them?

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

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

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

The righteous saw it, and were glad, and the innocent laugh them to scorn:

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

'Surely their substance is cut off, and their abundance the fire hath consumed.'

21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace. By this good shall come to thee.

Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby shall thine increase be good.

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

Receive, I pray thee, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in thy heart.

23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shall be built up, thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents.

If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up — if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents,

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

And lay thy treasure in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;

25 Yea, the Almighty will be thy treasure, and precious silver to thee.

And the Almighty be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee;

26 For then shall thou delight thyself in the Almighty, and shall lift up thy face to God.

Then surely shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

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

Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He will hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows;

28 Thou shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to thee. And light shall shine upon thy ways.

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

29 When they cast thee down, thou shall say, There is lifting up, and he will save the humble man.

When they cast thee down, thou shalt say: 'There is lifting up'; for the humble person He saveth.

30 He will deliver even him who is not innocent. Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.

He delivereth him that is innocent, yea, thou shalt be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.