Chapter 22

  Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,  

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

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

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  Is it for your piety that he reproves you, That he enters with you into judgment?  

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  Isn't your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.  

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  For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, And stripped the naked of their clothing.  

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  You haven't given water to the weary to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry.  

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  But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it.  

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  You have sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken.  

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  Therefore snares are round about you. Sudden fear troubles you,  

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  Or darkness, so that you can not see, And floods of waters cover you.  

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

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  You say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?  

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  Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn't see. He walks on the vault of the sky.'  

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  Will you keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden,  

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  Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,  

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  Who said to God, 'Depart from us;' And, 'What can the Almighty do for us?'  

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  Yet he filled their houses with good things, But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.  

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  The righteous see it, and are glad; The innocent laugh them to scorn,  

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  Saying, 'Surely those who rose up against us are cut off, The fire has consumed the remnant of them.'  

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

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  Please receive the law from his mouth, And lay up his words in your heart.  

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  If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, If you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.  

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  Lay your treasure in the dust, The gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.  

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  The Almighty will be your treasure, Precious silver to you.  

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  For then shall you delight yourself in the Almighty, And shall lift up your face to God.  

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

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

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  When they cast down, you shall say, 'be lifted up.' He will save the humble person.  

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  He will even deliver him who is not innocent; Yes, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.'  

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