Job — Chapter 22

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

2“Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?

3Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?

4Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?

5Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?

6For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.

7You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,

8while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it.

9You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.

10Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;

11it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

12Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!

13Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?

14Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’

15Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?

16They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.

17They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’

18But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

19The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them:

20‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’

21Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.

22Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.

23If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents

24and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,

25then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.

26Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.

27You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.

28Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.

29When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.

30He will deliver even one who is not innocent, rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

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

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

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

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

6For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, And stripped the naked of their clothing.

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

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

9Thou hast sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden fear troubleth thee,

11Or darkness, so that thou canst not see, And abundance of waters cover thee.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24And lay thou [thy] treasure in the dust, And [the gold of] Ophir among the stones of the brooks;

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

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

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

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

29When they cast [thee] down, thou shalt say, [There is] lifting up; And the humble person he will save.

30He will deliver [even] him that is not innocent: Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

2“Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit? Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable?

3Is it of any special benefit to the Almighty that you should be righteous, or is it any gain to him that you make your ways blameless?

4Is it because of your piety that he rebukes you and goes to judgment with you?

5Is not your wickedness great and is there no end to your iniquity?

6“For you took pledges from your brothers for no reason, and you stripped the clothing from the naked.

7You gave the weary no water to drink and from the hungry you withheld food.

8Although you were a powerful man, owning land, an honored man living on it,

9you sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of the orphans you crushed.

10That is why snares surround you, and why sudden fear terrifies you,

11why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you.

12“Is not God on high in heaven? And see the lofty stars, how high they are!

13But you have said, ‘What does God know? Does he judge through such deep darkness?

14Thick clouds are a veil for him, so he does not see us, as he goes back and forth in the vault of heaven.’

15Will you keep to the old path that evil men have walked—

16men who were carried off before their time, when the flood was poured out on their foundations?

17They were saying to God, ‘Turn away from us,’ and, ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’

18But it was he who filled their houses with good things— yet the counsel of the wicked was far from me.

19The righteous see their destruction and rejoice; the innocent mock them scornfully, saying,

20‘Surely our enemies are destroyed, and fire consumes their wealth.’

21“Reconcile yourself with God, and be at peace with him; in this way your prosperity will be good.

22Accept instruction from his mouth and store up his words in your heart.

23If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; if you remove wicked behavior far from your tent,

24and throw your gold in the dust— your gold of Ophir among the rocks in the ravines—

25then the Almighty himself will be your gold, and the choicest silver for you.

26Surely then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and will lift up your face toward God.

27You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows to him.

28Whatever you decide on a matter, it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.

29When people are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then he will save the downcast;

30he will deliver even someone who is not innocent, who will escape through the cleanness of your hands.”

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2“Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.

3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him, that you make your ways perfect?

4Is it for your piety that he reproves you, that he enters with you into judgment?

5Isn’t your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.

6For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7You haven’t given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

8But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it.

9You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10Therefore snares are around you. Sudden fear troubles you,

11or 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!

13You say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

14Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn’t see. He walks on the vault of the sky.’

15Will you keep the old way, which wicked men have trodden,

16who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream,

17who said to God, ‘Depart from us;’ and, ‘What can the Almighty do for us?’

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

19The righteous see it, and are glad. The innocent ridicule them,

20saying, ‘Surely those who rose up against us are cut off. The fire has consumed their remnant.’

21“Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace. Thereby good shall come to you.

22Please receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.

23If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, if you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.

24Lay your treasure in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.

25The Almighty will be your treasure, and precious silver to you.

26For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face to God.

27You shall make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You shall pay your vows.

28You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you. Light shall shine on your ways.

29When they cast down, you shall say, ‘be lifted up.’ He will save the humble person.

30He will even deliver him who is not innocent. Yes, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”