1 A nd Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2 C an a man be profitable to God? surely it is unto himself that the wise man is profitable.

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

4 W ill he reason with thee for fear of thee? Will he enter with thee into judgment?

5 I s not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities without end?

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

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

8 B ut the powerful man, he had the land; and the man of high rank dwelt in it.

9 W idows hast thou sent empty away, 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, that thou canst not see, and floods of waters cover thee.

12 I s not +God in the height of the heavens? And behold the summit of the stars: how exalted are they!

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

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

15 D ost thou mark the ancient path which wicked men have trodden?

16 W ho were carried off before the time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood;

17 W ho said unto God, Depart from us! and what could the Almighty do to them?

18 Y et he filled their houses with good. 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 I s not he who rose against us destroyed, and doth not the fire consume his residue?

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

22 R eceive, I pray thee, instruction 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 remove unrighteousness far from thy tents,

24 A nd put the precious ore with the dust, and Ophir among the stones of the torrents,

25 T hen the Almighty will be thy precious ore, and silver heaped up unto thee;

26 Y ea, 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 A nd thou shalt decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; and light shall shine upon thy ways.

29 W hen they are made low, then thou shalt say, Rise up! and he shall save him that is of downcast eyes.

30 h im that is not innocent shall he deliver; yea, he shall be delivered by the pureness of thy hands.