1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2 C an a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be 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 W ill he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?

5 I s not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?

6 F or thou hast taken a pledge from 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 honourable man 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, 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, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

14 T hick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

15 H ast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

16 W hich were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

17 W hich said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?

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 W hereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.

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 thine heart.

23 I f thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

24 T hen shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

25 Y ea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.

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

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

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

29 W hen men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

30 H e shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.