Job 22

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 Is it possible for a man to be of profit to God? No, for a man's wisdom is only of profit to himself.

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

3 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?

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

4 Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?

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

5 Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.

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

6 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.

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

7 You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.

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

8 For it was the man with power who had the land, and the man with an honoured name who was living in it.

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

9 You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father.

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

10 For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.

Therefore snares are around you. Sudden fear troubles you,

11 Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.

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

12 Is not God as high as heaven? and see 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 you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?

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

14 Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.

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

15 Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?

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

16 Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:

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

17 Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?

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

18 Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!

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

19 The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,

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

20 Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.

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

21 Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.

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

22 Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.

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

23 If you come back to the Ruler of all, making yourself low before him; if you put evil far away from your tents;

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

24 And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;

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

25 Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;

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

26 For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.

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

27 You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.

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

28 Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.

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

29 For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.

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

30 He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.

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