Job 22

1Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,

1And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: --

2Can a man be profitable unto God? Surely he that is wise is 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.

2To God is a man profitable, Because a wise man to himself is profitable?

3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gainto 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?

3Is it a delight to the Mighty One That thou art righteous? is it gain, That thou makest perfect thy ways?

4Is it for thy fear of him that he reproveth thee, That he entereth with thee into judgment?

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

4Because of thy reverence Doth He reason <FI>with<Fi> thee? He entereth with thee into judgment:

5Is not thy wickedness great? Neither is there any end to thine iniquities.

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

5Is not thy wickedness abundant? And there is no end to thine iniquities.

6For thou hast taken pledges of 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.

6For thou takest a pledge of thy brother for nought, And the garments of the naked Thou dost strip off.

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.

7Thou causest not the weary to drink water, And from the hungry thou withholdest bread.

8But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; And the honorable man, he 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.

8As to the man of arm--he hath the earth, And the accepted of face--he dwelleth 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.

9Widows thou hast sent away empty, And the arms of the fatherless are bruised.

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.

10Therefore round about thee <FI>are<Fi> snares, And trouble thee doth fear suddenly.

11Or darkness, so 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.

11Or darkness--thou dost not see, And abundance of waters doth cover thee.

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!

12Is not God high <FI>in<Fi> heaven? And see the summit of the stars, That they are high.

13And thou sayest, What doth God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

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

13And thou hast said, `What--hath God known? Through thickness doth He judge?

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

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

14Thick clouds <FI>are<Fi> a secret place to Him, And He doth not see;' And the circle of the heavens He walketh habitually,

15Wilt thou keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden?

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

15The path of the age dost thou observe, That men of iniquity have trodden?

16Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,

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

16Who have been cut down unexpectedly, A flood is poured out on their foundation.

17Who said unto God, Depart from us; And, What can the Almighty do for us?

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

17Those saying to God, `Turn aside from us,' And what doth the Mighty One to them?

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!

18And he hath filled their houses <FI>with<Fi> good: (And the counsel of the wicked Hath been 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,

19See do the righteous and they rejoice, And the innocent mocketh at them,

20Saying, Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, And the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.

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

20`Surely our substance hath not been cut off, And their excellency hath fire consumed.'

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.

21Acquaint thyself, I pray thee, with Him, And be at peace, Thereby thine increase <FI>is<Fi> good.

22Receive, I pray thee, the law from 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.

22Receive, I pray thee, from His mouth a law, And set His sayings in thy heart.

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

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 dost return unto the Mighty Thou art built up, Thou puttest iniquity far from thy tents.

24And lay thou thy treasure in the dust, Andthe gold ofOphir among the stones of the brooks;

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

24So as to set on the dust a defence, And on a rock of the valleys a covering.

25And the Almighty will be thy treasure, And precious silver unto thee.

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

25And the Mighty hath been thy defence, And silver <FI>is<Fi> strength to thee.

26For then shalt thou delight thyself 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.

26For then on the Mighty thou delightest thyself, And dost lift up unto God thy face,

27Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he will 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.

27Thou dost make supplication unto Him, And He doth hear thee, And thy vows thou completest.

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

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

28And thou decreest a saying, And it is established to thee, And on thy ways hath light shone.

29When they casttheedown, thou shalt say, There is lifting up; And the humble person he will save.

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

29For they have made low, And thou sayest, `Lift up.' And the bowed down of eyes he saveth.

30He will deliverevenhim that is not innocent: Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.

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

30He delivereth the not innocent, Yea, he hath been delivered By the cleanness of thy hands.