Job 22

¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, and said,

² “Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

³ Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? or is it gain to him that you make your ways perfect?

⁴ Will he reprove you for fear of you? will he enter with you into judgment?

⁵ Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities infinite?

⁶ For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

⁷ You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withholden bread from the hungry.

⁸ The mighty man possessed the land, and the honourable man dwelt therein; you have sent widows away empty.

⁹ Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubleth you;

¹⁰ Or darkness, that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you.

¹¹ Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

¹² And you say, What doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

¹³ Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

¹⁴ Will you keep to the old path which wicked men have trodden?

¹⁵ Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

¹⁶ Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?

¹⁷ Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

¹⁸ The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.

¹⁹ Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.

²⁰ Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto you.

²¹ Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.

²² If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, if you put away iniquity far from your tabernacles.

²³ And lay your treasure in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks:

²⁴ Yea, the Almighty shall be your defence, and you shall have plenty of silver.

²⁵ For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face unto God.

²⁶ You shall make your prayer unto him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows.

²⁷ You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you: and the light shall shine upon your ways.

²⁸ When men are cast down, then you shall say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

²⁹ He shall deliver the one that is not innocent: yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”