Job 22

1Then Eliphaz the Themanite answered, and said:

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,

2Can man be compared with God, even though he were of perfect knowledge?

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

3What doth it profit God if thou be just? or what dost thou give him if thy way be unspotted?

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?

4Shall he reprove thee for fear, and come with thee into judgment:

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

5And not for thy manifold wickedness and thy infinite iniquities?

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

6For thou hast taken away the pledge of thy brethren without cause, and stripped them naked of their clothing.

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.

7Thou hast not given water to the weary, thou hast withdrawn bread from the hungry.

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

8In the strength of thy arm thou didst possess the land, and being the most mighty thou holdest it.

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

9Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless thou hast broken in pieces.

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

10Therefore art thou surrounded with snares, and sudden fear troubleth thee.

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

11And didst thou think that thou shouldst not see darkness, and that thou shouldst not be covered with the violence of overflowing waters?

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

12Dost not thou think that God is higher than heaven, and is elevated above the height of the stars?

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

13And thou sayst: What doth God know? and he judgeth as it were through a mist.

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

14The clouds are his covert, and he doth not consider our things, and he walketh about the poles of heaven.

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

15Dost thou desire to keep the path of ages, which wicked men have spurned?

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

16Who were taken away before their time, and a flood hath overthrown their foundation.

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

17Who said to God: Depart from us: and looked upon the Almighty as if he could do nothing:

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

18Whereas he had filled their houses with good things: whose way of thinking be far from me.

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

19The just shall see, and shall rejoice, and the innocent shall laugh them to scorn.

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

20Is not their exaltation cut down, and hath not fire devoured the remnants of them?

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

21Submit thyself then to him, and be at peace: and thereby thou shalt have the best fruits.

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

22Receive the law of his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart.

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

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

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

24He shall give for earth flint, and for flint torrents of gold.

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

25And the Almighty shall be against thy enemies, and silver shall be heaped together for thee.

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

26Then shalt thou abound in delights in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face to God.

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

27Thou shalt pray to him, and he will hear thee, and thou shalt pay vows.

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

28Thou shalt decree a thing, and it shall come to thee, and light shall shine in thy ways.

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

29For he that hath been humbled, shall be in glory: and he that shall bow down his eyes, he shall be saved.

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

30The innocent shall be saved, and he shall be saved by the cleanness of his hands.

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