Job 22

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,

2Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

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

3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

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?

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

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

5Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?

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

6For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the 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 to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

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

8But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in 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 have been broken.

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

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

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

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

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

12Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

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

13And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

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

14Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

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

15Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

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

16Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

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

17Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?

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

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

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

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

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

20Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.

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

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

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

22Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

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

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

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

24Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

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

25Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.

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

26For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

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

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

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

28Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

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

29When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

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

30He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.

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