Job 22

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

Then Eliphaz the Thaemanite answered and said,

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

Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge?

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? or is it gain to him, that you make your ways perfect?

For what matters it to the Lord, if thou wert blameless in [thy] works? or is it profitable that thou shouldest perfect thy way?

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

Wilt thou maintain and plead thine own cause? and will he enter into judgment with thee?

5 Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities infinite?

Is not thy wickedness abundant, and thy sins innumerable?

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

And thou hast taken security of thy brethren for nothing, and hast taken away the clothing of the naked.

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

Neither hast thou given water to the thirsty to drink, but hast taken away the morsel of the hungry.

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

And thou hast accepted the persons of some; and thou hast established those [that were already settled] on the earth.

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

But thou hast sent widows away empty, and has afflicted orphans.

10 Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubles you;

Therefore snares have compassed thee, and disastrous war has troubled thee.

11 Or darkness, that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you.

The light has proved darkness to thee, and water has covered thee on thy lying down.

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

Does not he that dwells in the high places observe? and has he not brought down the proud?

13 And you say, How does God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

And thou has said, What does the Mighty One know? does he judge in the dark?

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

A cloud is his hiding-place, and he shall not be seen; and he passes through the circle of heaven.

15 Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

Wilt thou [not] mark the old way, which righteous men have trodden?

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

who were seized before their time: their foundations [are as] an overflowing stream.

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

Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us?

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 for the wicked is far from him.

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

The righteous have seen [it], and laughed, and the blameless one has derided [them].

20 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumes.

Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their [property].

21 Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto you.

Be firm, I pray thee, if thou canst endure; then thy fruit shall prosper.

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

And receive a declaration from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

23 If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tabernacles.

And if thou shalt turn and humble thyself before the Lord, thou hast [thus] removed unrighteousness far from thy habitation.

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

Thou shalt lay up for thyself [treasure] in a heap on the rock; and Sophir [shall be] as the rock of the torrent.

25 Yea, the Almighty shall be your defence, and you shall have plenty of silver.

So the Almighty shall be thy helper from enemies, and he shall bring thee forth pure as silver that has been tried by fire.

26 For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face unto God.

Then shalt thou have boldness before the Lord, looking up cheerfully to heaven.

27 You shall make your prayer unto him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows.

And he shall hear thee when thou prayest to him, and he shall grant thee [power] to pay thy vows.

28 You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you: and the light shall shine upon your ways.

And he shall establish to thee again a habitation of righteousness and there shall be light upon thy paths.

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

Because thou hast humbled thyself; and thou shalt say, [Man] has behaved proudly, but he shall save him that is of lowly eyes.

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

He shall deliver the innocent, and do thou save thyself by thy pure hands.