1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 C an a man be profitable to God? Surely he that is wise is profitable to himself.

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

3 I s it any pleasure or advantage to the Almighty that you are righteous (upright and in right standing with Him)? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways perfect?

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

4 I s it for your fear of Him that He reproves you, that He enters with you into judgment?

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

5 I s not your wickedness great? There is no end to your iniquities.

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

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

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

7 Y ou have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

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

8 B ut the man with power possessed the land, and the favored and accepted man dwelt in it.

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

9 Y ou have sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

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

10 T herefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubles and overwhelms you;

Therefore snares are around you. Sudden fear troubles you,

11 Y our light is darkened, so that you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

or darkness, so that you can not see, and floods of waters cover you.

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

“Isn’t God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the stars, how high they are!

13 T herefore you say, How and what does God know ? Can He judge through the thick darkness?

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

14 T hick clouds are a covering to Him, so that He does not see, and He walks on the vault of the heavens.

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

15 W ill you pay attention and keep to the old way that wicked men trod,

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

16 M en who were snatched away before their time, whose foundations were poured out like a stream ?

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

17 T hey said to God, Depart from us, and, What can the Almighty do for or to us?

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

18 Y et He filled their houses with good. But the counsel of the ungodly 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. The innocent ridicule them,

20 S urely those who rose up against us are cut off, and that which remained to them the fire has consumed.

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

21 A cquaint now yourself with Him and be at peace; by that good shall come to you.

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

22 R eceive, I pray you, the law and instruction from His mouth and lay up His words in your heart.

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

23 I f you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; if you put away unrighteousness far from your tents,

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

24 I f you lay gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brook,

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

25 A nd make the Almighty your gold and your precious silver treasure,

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

26 T hen you will have delight in the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to God.

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

27 Y ou will make your prayer to Him, and He will hear you, and you will pay your vows.

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

28 Y ou shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light shall shine upon your ways.

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

29 W hen they make low, you will say, a lifting up; and the humble person He lifts up and saves.

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

30 H e will even deliver the one who is not innocent; yes, he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.

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