Job 22

1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,

2 Can a man be profitable to God? surely it is unto himself that the wise man is profitable.

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

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

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?

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

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

5 Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities without end?

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

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

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.

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

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

8 But the powerful man, he had the land; and the man of high rank dwelt in it.

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

9 Widows hast thou sent empty away, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

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

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

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

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

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

12 Is not God in the height of the heavens? And behold the summit of the stars: how exalted are they!

Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!

13 And thou sayest, What doth God know? will he judge through the dark cloud?

And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?

14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh on the vault of the heavens.

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

15 Dost thou mark the ancient path which wicked men have trodden?

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

16 Who were carried off before the time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood;

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

17 Who said unto God, Depart from us! and what could the Almighty do to them?

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

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

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

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

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

20 Is not he who rose against us destroyed, and doth not the fire consume his residue?

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

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

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

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

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

23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up. If thou remove unrighteousness far from thy tents,

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

24 And put the precious ore with the dust, and [the gold of] Ophir among the stones of the torrents,

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

25 Then the Almighty will be thy precious ore, and silver heaped up unto thee;

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

26 Yea, then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God:

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

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

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

28 And thou shalt decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; and light shall shine upon thy ways.

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

29 When they are made low, then thou shalt say, Rise up! and he shall save him that is of downcast eyes.

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

30 [Even] him that is not innocent shall he deliver; yea, he shall be delivered by the pureness of thy hands.

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