22:1
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:

22:2
Can a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him?

22:3
Is it any advantage to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways blameless?

22:4
Is it for thy fear of Him that He reproveth thee, that He entereth with thee into judgment?

22:5
Is not thy wickedness great? And are not thine iniquities without end?

22:6
For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

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

22:8
And as a mighty man, who hath the earth, and as a man of rank, who dwelleth in it,

22:9
Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

22:10
Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden dread affrighted thee,

22:11
Or darkness, that thou canst not see, and abundance of waters cover thee.

22:12
Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the topmost of the stars, how high they are!

22:13
And thou sayest: 'What doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud?

22:14
Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven.'

22:15
Wilt thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?

22:16
Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream;

22:17
Who said unto God: 'Depart from us'; and what could the Almighty do unto them?

22:18
Yet He filled their houses with good things--but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

22:19
The righteous saw it, and were glad, and the innocent laugh them to scorn:

22:20
'Surely their substance is cut off, and their abundance the fire hath consumed.'

22:21
Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby shall thine increase be good.

22:22
Receive, I pray thee, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in thy heart.

22:23
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up--if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents,

22:24
And lay thy treasure in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;

22:25
And the Almighty be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee;

22:26
Then surely shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

22:27
Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He will hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows;

22:28
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee, and light shall shine upon thy ways.

22:29
When they cast thee down, thou shalt say: 'There is lifting up'; for the humble person He saveth.

22:30
He delivereth him that is innocent, yea, thou shalt be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.