1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

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

“Can a man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?

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

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless?

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

“Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you, And enters into judgment with you?

5 I s not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?

Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquity without end?

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

For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason, And stripped the naked of their clothing.

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

You have not given the weary water to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry.

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

But the mighty man possessed the land, And the honorable man dwelt in it.

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

You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the fatherless was crushed.

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

Therefore snares are all around you, And sudden fear troubles you,

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

Or darkness so that you cannot see; And an abundance of water covers you.

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

“Is not God in the height of heaven? And see the highest stars, how lofty they are!

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

And you say, ‘What does God know? Can He judge through the deep darkness?

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

Thick clouds cover Him, so that He cannot see, And He walks above the circle of heaven.’

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

Will you keep to the old way Which wicked men have trod,

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

Who were cut down before their time, Whose foundations were swept away by a flood?

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

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

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

Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

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

“The righteous see it and are glad, And the innocent laugh at them:

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

‘Surely our adversaries are cut down, And the fire consumes their remnant.’

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

“Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you.

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

Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart.

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

If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; You will remove iniquity far from your tents.

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

Then you will lay your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.

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

Yes, the Almighty will be your gold And your precious silver;

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

For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, And lift up your face to God.

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

You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, And you will pay your vows.

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

You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways.

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

When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come! ’ Then He will save the humble person.

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

He will even deliver one who is not innocent; Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.”