< Job 22 >

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, and sayde,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 May a man be profitable vnto God, as he that is wise, may be profitable to himselfe?
Can a man be profitable to God, as he that is wise may be profitable to himself?
3 Is it any thing vnto the Almightie, that thou art righteous? or is it profitable to him, that thou makest thy wayes vpright?
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? or is it gain to him, that you make your ways perfect?
4 Is it for feare of thee that he will accuse thee? or go with thee into iudgement?
Will he reprove you for fear of you? will he enter with you into judgment?
5 Is not thy wickednes great, and thine iniquities innumerable?
Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities infinite?
6 For thou hast taken the pledge from thy brother for nought, and spoyled the clothes of the naked.
For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 To such as were wearie, thou hast not giuen water to drinke, and hast withdrawen bread from the hungrie.
You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
8 But the mightie man had the earth, and he that was in autoritie, dwelt in it.
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honorable man dwelled in it.
9 Thou hast cast out widowes emptie, and the armes of the fatherles were broken.
You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and feare shall suddenly trouble thee:
Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubles you;
11 Or darkenes that thou shouldest not see, and abundance of waters shall couer thee.
Or darkness, that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you.
12 Is not God on hie in the heauen? and behold the height of the starres how hie they are.
Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
13 But thou sayest, How should God know? can he iudge through the darke cloude?
And you say, How does God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?
14 The cloudes hide him that he can not see, and he walketh in the circle of heauen.
Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he sees not; and he walks in the circuit of heaven.
15 Hast thou marked the way of the worlde, wherein wicked men haue walked?
Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16 Which were cut downe before the time, whose foundation was as a riuer that ouerflowed:
Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood:
17 Which sayd vnto God, Depart from vs, and asked what the Almightie could do for them.
Which said to God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
18 Yet hee filled their houses with good things: but let the counsell of the wicked be farre from me.
Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19 The righteous shall see them, and shall reioyce, and the innocent shall laugh them to scorne.
The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
20 Surely our substance is hid: but the fire hath deuoured the remnant of them.
Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumes.
21 Therefore acquaint thy selfe, I pray thee, with him, and make peace: thereby thou shalt haue prosperitie.
Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come to you.
22 Receiue, I pray thee, the law of his mouth, and lay vp his words in thine heart.
Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23 If thou returne to the Almightie, thou shalt be buylt vp, and thou shalt put iniquitie farre from thy tabernacle.
If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tabernacles.
24 Thou shalt lay vp golde for dust, and the gold of Ophir, as the flintes of the riuers.
Then shall you lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
25 Yea, the Almightie shalbe thy defence, and thou shalt haue plentie of siluer.
Yes, the Almighty shall be your defense, and you shall have plenty of silver.
26 And thou shalt then delite in the Almightie, and lift vp thy face vnto God.
For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face to God.
27 Thou shalt make thy praier vnto him, and he shall heare thee, and thou shalt render thy vowes.
You shall make your prayer to him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows.
28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and he shall establish it vnto thee, and the light shall shine vpon thy wayes.
You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you: and the light shall shine on your ways.
29 When others are cast downe, then shalt thou say, I am lifted vp: and God shall saue the humble person.
When men are cast down, then you shall say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
30 The innocent shall deliuer the yland, and it shalbe preserued by the purenes of thine hands.
He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of your hands.

< Job 22 >