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

Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“To the weary you have given no water to drink, And from the hungry you have withheld bread.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“They said to God, ‘Depart from us!’ And ‘What can the Almighty do to them?’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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