1 T hen answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

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

“Can a vigorous man be of use to God, Or a wise man be useful 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 there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, Or profit if you make your ways perfect?

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

“Is it because of your reverence that He reproves you, That He enters into judgment against you?

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

“Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquities without end?

6 F or thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, And stripped the naked of their clothing.

“For you have taken pledges of your brothers without cause, And stripped men naked.

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

“To the weary you have given no water to drink, And from the hungry you have withheld bread.

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

“But the earth belongs to the mighty man, And the honorable man dwells 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 orphans has been crushed.

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

“Therefore snares surround you, And sudden dread terrifies you,

11 O r darkness, so 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? Look also at the distant stars, how high they are!

13 A nd thou sayest, What doth 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 seeth not; And he walketh on the vault of heaven.

‘ Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see; And He walks on the vault of heaven.’

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

“Will you keep to the ancient path Which wicked men have trod,

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

Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were washed away by a river?

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

“They said to God, ‘Depart from us!’ And ‘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 and are glad, And the innocent mock them,

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

Saying, ‘Truly our adversaries are cut off, And their abundance the fire has consumed.’

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

“ Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you.

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

“Please receive instruction from His mouth And establish His words in your heart.

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

“If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent,

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

And place your gold 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.

Then the Almighty will be your gold And choice silver to you.

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

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

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

“You will pray to Him, and 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 light shall shine upon thy ways.

“You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.

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

“When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, 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.

“He will deliver one who is not innocent, And he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”