[1] Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, [2] "Can a man be profitable to
God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself. [3] Is it any
pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? Or does it benefit
him, that you make your ways perfect? [4] Is it for your piety that he
reproves you, That he enters with you into judgment? [5] Isn`t your
wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities. [6] For
you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, And stripped the
naked of their clothing. [7] You haven`t given water to the weary to drink,
And you have withheld bread from the hungry. [8] But as for the mighty
man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it. [9] You have
sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
[10] Therefore snares are round about you. Sudden fear troubles you,
[11] Or darkness, so that you can not see, And floods of waters cover
you. [12] "Isn`t God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the
stars, how high they are! [13] You say, `What does God know? Can he
judge through the thick darkness? [14] Thick clouds are a covering to him,
so that he doesn`t see. He walks on the vault of the sky.` [15] Will you
keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden, [16] Who were snatched
away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,
[17] Who said to God, `Depart from us;` And, `What can the Almighty do
for us?` [18] Yet he filled their houses with good things, But the
counsel of the wicked is far from me. [19] The righteous see it, and are
glad; The innocent laugh them to scorn, [20] Saying, `Surely those who
rose up against us are cut off, The fire has consumed the remnant of
them.` [21] "Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace. Thereby
good shall come to you. [22] Please receive the law from his mouth, And
lay up his words in your heart. [23] If you return to the Almighty, you
shall be built up, If you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.
[24] Lay your treasure in the dust, The gold of Ophir among the stones
of the brooks. [25] The Almighty will be your treasure, Precious silver
to you. [26] For then shall you delight yourself in the Almighty, And
shall lift up your face to God. [27] You shall make your prayer to him, and
he will hear you. You shall pay your vows. [28] You shall also decree a
thing, and it shall be established to you. Light shall shine on
your ways. [29] When they cast down, you shall say, `be lifted up.` He
will save the humble person. [30] He will even deliver him who is not
innocent; Yes, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of your
hands."
