22:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
22:2 “Can a man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise man benefit him?
22:3 What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would he gain if your ways were blameless?
22:4 “Is it for your piety that he rebukes you and brings charges against you?
22:5 Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless?
22:6 You demanded security from your brothers for no reason; you stripped men of their clothing, leaving them naked.
22:7 You gave no water to the weary and you withheld food from the hungry,
22:8 though you were a powerful man, owning land–an honored man, living on it.
22:9 And you sent widows away empty-handed and broke the strength of the fatherless.
22:10 That is why snares are all around you, why sudden peril terrifies you,
22:11 why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you.
22:12 “Is not God in the heights of heaven? And see how lofty are the highest stars!
22:13 Yet you say, ‘What does God know? Does he judge through such darkness?
22:14 Thick clouds veil him, so he does not see us as he goes about in the vaulted heavens.’
22:15 Will you keep to the old path that evil men have trod?
22:16 They were carried off before their time, their foundations washed away by a flood.
22:17 They said to God, ‘Leave us alone! What can the Almighty do to us?’
22:18 Yet it was he who filled their houses with good things, so I stand aloof from the counsel of the wicked.
22:19 “The righteous see their ruin and rejoice; the innocent mock them, saying,
22:20 ‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire devours their wealth.’
22:21 “Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.
22:22 Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.
22:23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from your tent
22:24 and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines,
22:25 then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you.
22:26 Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God.
22:27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
22:28 What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways.
22:29 When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then he will save the downcast.
22:30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”
22:1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
22:2 Can a man of might be of any use to God? / No, a man of insight is of use only to himself.
22:3 Is it a matter of delight to the Almighty that you are righteous? / Or is it a gain to Him that you make your ways perfect?
22:4 Is it because of your fear of Him that He reproves you, / That He enters into judgment with you?
22:5 Is not your wickedness great, / And is there no end to your iniquities?
22:6 For you have taken pledges from your brothers without cause / And stripped the naked of their clothing.
22:7 You have not given water to the weary to drink, / And you have withheld bread from the hungry.
22:8 And as for the man of power, the earth was his; / And the man of honor dwelt in it.
22:9 You have sent away the widows empty, / And the arms of the orphans have been crushed.
22:10 Therefore snares are all around you; / And sudden dread troubles you,
22:11 Or darkness, so that you cannot see; / And an abundance of waters covers you.
22:12 Is not God at the height of heaven? / And look at the highest of the stars, how lofty they are!
22:13 And you say, What does God know? / Can He judge through the deep darkness?
22:14 Thick clouds are a covering to Him, so He cannot see; / And He walks upon the circle of the heavens.
22:15 Will you keep the old way, / Which wicked men have trodden?
22:16 Such were snatched away before their time, / Whose foundation was poured forth like a stream;
22:17 Who said to God, Depart from us; / And, What can the Almighty accomplish for us?
22:18 Yet He fills their houses with good things. / But the counsel of the wicked is far from Him.
22:19 The righteous see and rejoice, / And the innocent deride them,
22:20 Saying, Surely those who rose up against us are cut off, / And the remnant of them the fire has devoured.
22:21 Be well disposed to Him and at peace with Him; / By such, good will come upon you.
22:22 Receive instruction from His mouth, / And lay up His words in your heart.
22:23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up. / If you put injustice far away from your tents,
22:24 And place your gold nuggets in the dust / And your gold of Ophir in the stones of the brooks,
22:25 Then the Almighty will be your gold nuggets / And precious silver to you.
22:26 For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, / And you will lift up your countenance to God.
22:27 You will pray to Him, and He will hear you; / And you will repay your vows.
22:28 You will also decree something, and it will be established for you; / And light will shine on your ways.
22:29 When they cast you down, you will say, I am up! / And the lowly person He will save.
22:30 He will deliver him who is not innocent; / Yes, you will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.