Job 22
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Job 22
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| Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said, | Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said, |
| Can a man be profitable unto God? Surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself. | Is it possible for a man to be of profit to God? No, for a man's wisdom is only of profit to himself. |
| Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain [to him], that thou makest thy ways perfect? | Is it of any interest to the Ruler of all that you are upright? or is it of use to him that your ways are without sin? |
| Is it for thy fear [of him] that he reproveth thee, That he entereth with thee into judgment? | Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you? |
| Is not thy wickedness great? Neither is there any end to thine iniquities. | Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins. |
| For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, And stripped the naked of their clothing. | For you have taken your brother's goods when he was not in your debt, and have taken away the clothing of those who have need of it. |
| Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, And thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. | You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread. |
| But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; And the honorable man, he dwelt in it. | For it was the man with power who had the land, and the man with an honoured name who was living in it. |
| Thou hast sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken. | You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father. |
| Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden fear troubleth thee, | For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear. |
| Or darkness, so that thou canst not see, And abundance of waters cover thee. | Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters. |
| Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are! | Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are! |
| And thou sayest, What doth God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness? | And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark? |
| Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he seeth not; And he walketh on the vault of heaven. | Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven. |
| Wilt thou keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden? | Will you keep the old way by which evil men went? |
| Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream, | Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters: |
| Who said unto God, Depart from us; And, What can the Almighty do for us? | Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us? |
| Yet he filled their houses with good things: But the counsel of the wicked is far from me. | Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me! |
| The righteous see it, and are glad; And the innocent laugh them to scorn, | The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them, |
| [Saying], Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, And the remnant of them the fire hath consumed. | Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire. |
| Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: Thereby good shall come unto thee. | Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings. |
| Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, And lay up his words in thy heart. | Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart. |
| If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, If thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents. | If you come back to the Ruler of all, making yourself low before him; if you put evil far away from your tents; |
| And lay thou [thy] treasure in the dust, And [the gold of] Ophir among the stones of the brooks; | And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys; |
| And the Almighty will be thy treasure, And precious silver unto thee. | Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver; |
| For then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty, And shalt lift up thy face unto God. | For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God. |
| Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he will hear thee; And thou shalt pay thy vows. | You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths. |
| Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; And light shall shine upon thy ways. | Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways. |
| When they cast [thee] down, thou shalt say, [There is] lifting up; And the humble person he will save. | For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit. |
| He will deliver [even] him that is not innocent: Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands. | He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours. |
