1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: --

2 “ Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to 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 you are righteous? Or does it benefit him, that you make your 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 your piety that he reproves you, that he enters with you into judgment?

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

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

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

6 F or you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, 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 Y ou haven’t given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld 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. The honorable man, he lived in it.

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

9 Y ou have 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 around you. Sudden fear troubles you,

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

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

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

12 “ Isn’t God in the heights of heaven? See 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 Y ou say, ‘What does 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 doesn’t see. He walks on the vault of the sky.’

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

15 W ill you 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 to 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. The innocent ridicule them,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If thou dost return unto the Mighty Thou art built up, Thou puttest iniquity far from thy tents.

24 L ay your treasure in the dust, 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 T he Almighty will be your treasure, and precious silver to you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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