1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 “ Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.

3 I s it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him, that you make your ways perfect?

4 I s it for your piety that he reproves you, that he enters with you into judgment?

5 I sn’t your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.

6 F or you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7 Y ou haven’t given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

8 B ut as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it.

9 Y ou have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10 T herefore snares are around you. Sudden fear troubles you,

11 o r darkness, so that you can not see, and floods of waters cover you.

12 “ Isn’t God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the stars, how high they are!

13 Y ou say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

14 T hick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn’t see. He walks on the vault of the sky.’

15 W ill you keep the old way, which wicked men have trodden,

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

17 w ho said to God, ‘Depart from us;’ and, ‘What can the Almighty do for us?’

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. The innocent ridicule them,

20 s aying, ‘Surely those who rose up against us are cut off. The fire has consumed their remnant.’

21 “ Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace. Thereby good shall come to you.

22 P lease receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.

23 I f you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, if you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.

24 L ay your treasure in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.

25 T he Almighty will be your treasure, and precious silver to you.

26 F or then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face to God.

27 Y ou shall make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You shall pay your vows.

28 Y ou shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you. Light shall shine on your ways.

29 W hen they cast down, you shall say, ‘be lifted up.’ He will save the humble person.

30 H e will even deliver him who is not innocent. Yes, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”