Job 22
1
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,
2
Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to 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
Is it for your fear [of him] that he reproves you, That he enters with you into judgment?
5
Is not your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.
6
For you have taken pledges of your brother for nothing, 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
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; And the honorable man, he dwelt in it.
9
You have sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10
Therefore snares are round about you, And sudden fear troubles you,
11
Or darkness, so that you can not see, And abundance of waters cover you.
12
Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they
are!
13
And you say, What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?
14
Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he sees not; And he walks on the vault
of heaven.
15
Will you keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden?
16
Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,
17
Who said to God, Depart from us; And, What can the Almighty do for us?
18
Yet he filled their houses with good things: But the counsel of the wicked is far
from me.
19
The righteous see it, and are glad; And the innocent laugh them to scorn,
20
[Saying], Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, And the remnant
of them the fire has consumed.
21
Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: Thereby good shall come to you.
22
Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, And lay up his words in your heart.
23
If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, If you put away unrighteousness
far from your tents.
24
And lay you [your] treasure in the dust, And [the gold of] Ophir among the stones
of the brooks;
25
And the Almighty will be your treasure, And precious silver to you.
26
For then shall you delight yourself in the Almighty, And shall lift up your face to
God.
27
You shall make your prayer to him, and he will hear you; And you shall pay your
vows.
28
You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you; And light
shall shine upon your ways.
29
When they cast [you] down, you shall say, [There is] lifting up; And the humble
person he will save.
30
He will deliver [even] him whom is not innocent: Yea, he shall be delivered through
the cleanness of your hands.