1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

2 “ Can a man be of use to God? Can a wise man be of use to himself?

“Can a vigorous man be of use to God, Or a wise man be useful to himself?

3 I s the All-powerful pleased if you are right and good? Is it of any use to Him if your ways were perfect?

“Is there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, Or profit if you make your ways perfect?

4 I s it because of how you honor God that He speaks strong words to you and punishes you?

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

5 H ave you not done much wrong and your sins have no end?

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

6 F or you have taken things from your brothers when they did not owe you anything. You have taken all their clothing and they have had nothing to wear.

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

7 T o those who were tired, you have given no water to drink. And you have kept 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 you were a powerful and respected man owning land and living on it.

“But the earth belongs to the mighty man, And the honorable man dwells in it.

9 Y ou have sent women away with nothing, whose husbands have died. And you have crushed the strength of children who have no parents.

“You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the orphans has been crushed.

10 S o traps are all around you, and much fear comes upon you all at once.

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

11 T his is why it is dark and you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And an abundance of water covers you.

12 “ Is not God high up in heaven? See the highest stars, how high they are!

“Is not God in the height of heaven? Look also at the distant stars, how high they are!

13 S o you say, ‘What does God know? Can He judge through the darkness?

“You say, ‘ What does God know? Can He judge through the thick darkness?

14 C louds cover Him so that He cannot see. He walks on the roof of heaven.’

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

15 W ill you keep to the old way which sinful men have walked?

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

16 T hey were taken away before their time. The ground they stood on was washed away by a river.

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

17 T hey said to God, ‘Leave us!’ and ‘What can the All-powerful do to 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 wisdom of the sinful is far from me.

“Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19 T hose who are right and good see it and are glad. Those who are without guilt make fun of them,

“The righteous see and are glad, And the innocent mock them,

20 s aying, ‘For sure those who hate us are destroyed, and fire has destroyed what they owned.’

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

21 “ Agree with God, and be at peace with Him. Then good will come to you.

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

22 R eceive the teaching from His mouth, and keep His words in your heart.

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

23 I f you return to the All-powerful, things will be well with you again. Put sin far from your tent.

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

24 P ut your gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the river.

And place your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,

25 T hen the All-powerful will be your gold and silver of much worth.

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

26 T hen you will have joy in the All-powerful, and lift up your face to God.

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

27 Y ou will pray to Him, and He will hear you. And you will keep your promises to Him.

“You will pray to Him, and He will hear you; And you will pay your vows.

28 Y ou will decide something, and it will be done for you. Light will shine on your path.

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

29 F or God puts down the man who is filled with pride. But He saves the one who is not proud.

“When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, And the humble person He will save.

30 H e will save the man who is even guilty because he will be helped by your hands that are clean.”

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