Job 22

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

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

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

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

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him that you make your ways perfect?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and 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] round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;

Therefore snares are around you. Sudden fear troubles you,

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

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

12 [Is] not God in the height of heaven? and behold 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 And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

who said to God, ‘Depart from us!’ and, ‘What can the Almighty do for 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 of the wicked is far from me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lay your treasure in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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