Job 22

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,

1And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

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

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

3Is 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?

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

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

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

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

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

6For 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!

12Is notGod in the height of the heavens? And behold the summit of the stars: how exalted are they!

13And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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