1 A nd Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: --

2 T o God is a man profitable, Because a wise man to himself is profitable?

3 I s it a delight to the Mighty One That thou art righteous? is it gain, That thou makest perfect thy ways?

4 B ecause of thy reverence Doth He reason thee? He entereth with thee into judgment:

5 I s not thy wickedness abundant? And there is no end to thine iniquities.

6 F or thou takest a pledge of thy brother for nought, And the garments of the naked Thou dost strip off.

7 T hou causest not the weary to drink water, And from the hungry thou withholdest bread.

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

9 W idows thou hast sent away empty, And the arms of the fatherless are bruised.

10 T herefore round about thee snares, And trouble thee doth fear suddenly.

11 O r darkness -- thou dost not see, And abundance of waters doth cover thee.

12 I s not God high heaven? And see the summit of the stars, That they are high.

13 A nd thou hast said, `What -- hath God known? Through thickness doth He judge?

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

15 T he path of the age dost thou observe, That men of iniquity have trodden?

16 W ho have been cut down unexpectedly, A flood is poured out on their foundation.

17 T hose saying to God, `Turn aside from us,' And what doth the Mighty One to them?

18 A nd he hath filled their houses good: (And the counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)

19 S ee do the righteous and they rejoice, And the innocent mocketh at them,

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

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

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

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

24 S o as to set on the dust a defence, And on a rock of the valleys a covering.

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

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

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

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

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

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