1 T hen answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

2 C an a man be profitable unto God? Surely he that is wise is profitable unto 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?

4 I s it for thy fear of him that he reproveth thee, That he entereth with thee into judgment?

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

6 F or thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18 Y et 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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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