1 T hen answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: --

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

To God is a man profitable, Because a wise man to himself is profitable?

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 a delight to the Mighty One That thou art righteous? is it gain, That thou makest perfect thy ways?

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

Because of thy reverence Doth He reason thee? He entereth with thee into judgment:

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

Is not thy wickedness abundant? And there is no end to thine iniquities.

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

For thou takest a pledge of thy brother for nought, And the garments of the naked Thou dost strip off.

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

Thou causest not the weary to drink water, And from the hungry thou withholdest bread.

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

As to the man of arm -- he hath the earth, And the accepted of face -- he dwelleth in it.

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

Widows thou hast sent away empty, And the arms of the fatherless are bruised.

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

Therefore round about thee snares, And trouble thee doth fear suddenly.

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

Or darkness -- thou dost not see, And abundance of waters doth cover thee.

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

Is not God high heaven? And see the summit of the stars, That they are high.

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

And thou hast said, `What -- hath God known? Through thickness doth He judge?

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

Thick clouds a secret place to Him, And He doth not see;' And the circle of the heavens He walketh habitually,

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

The path of the age dost thou observe, That men of iniquity have trodden?

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

Who have been cut down unexpectedly, A flood is poured out on their foundation.

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

Those saying to God, `Turn aside from us,' And what doth the Mighty One to them?

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

And he hath filled their houses good: (And the counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)

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

See do the righteous and they rejoice, And the innocent mocketh at them,

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

`Surely our substance hath not been cut off, And their excellency hath fire consumed.'

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

Acquaint thyself, I pray thee, with Him, And be at peace, Thereby thine increase good.

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

Receive, I pray thee, from His mouth a law, And set His sayings 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.

If thou dost return unto the Mighty Thou art built up, Thou puttest iniquity 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;

So as to set on the dust a defence, And on a rock of the valleys a covering.

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

And the Mighty hath been thy defence, And silver strength to thee.

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

For then on the Mighty thou delightest thyself, And dost lift up unto God thy face,

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

Thou dost make supplication unto Him, And He doth hear thee, And thy vows thou completest.

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

And thou decreest a saying, And it is established to thee, And on thy ways hath light shone.

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

For they have made low, And thou sayest, `Lift up.' And the bowed down of eyes he saveth.

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

He delivereth the not innocent, Yea, he hath been delivered By the cleanness of thy hands.