Job, 22

1. Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

1. Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

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

2. Can man be of any use to God? Only himself a wise man benefits.

3. [Is it] any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or [is it] gain [to him], that thou makest thy ways perfect?

3. What would the Almighty gain if you were upright? What profit if you were blameless in your ways?

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

4. Is it for your piety that he reproves and brings you to judgment?

5. [Is] not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?

5. Is it not for your great wickedness, for there is no end to your sins?

6. For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

6. Without any need you kept your kinsmen's goods and stripped them naked of their clothing.

7. Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

7. You denied drink to the thirsty and withheld bread from the hungry.

8. But [as for] the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.

8. The powerful control the land and allot it to their cronies.

9. Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

9. You have sent widows away empty-handed and crushed the arms of orphans.

10. Therefore snares [are] round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;

10. No wonder snares are round about you and sudden terror makes you dismayed,

11. Or darkness, [that] thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.

11. you are blinded by darkness and covered by flood.

12. [Is] not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

12. Is not God above the heavens? See how lofty are the highest stars.

13. And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

13. Yet you say, "What does God know? Can he see through deep shadows?

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

14. He cannot see for thick clouds veil him as he walks upon the vault of the heavens."

15. Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

15. Will you keep to the old path that the wicked have trod?

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

16. In a moment they were carried off and their foundation washed away.

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

17. They said to God, "Away from us! What can the Almighty do to us?"

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

18. He had filled their houses with good things, but the thoughts of the wicked were far from him.

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

19. The righteous see their ruin and are glad, the innocent laugh at them and say,

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

20. "Now the great have come to nothing, fire has devoured their heritage."

21. Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

21. Come to terms with God and make peace; in this way you will prosper.

22. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

22. Listen to his teaching and keep his words in your heart.

23. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

23. If you return humbled to the Almighty, if you drive injustice from your tent,

24. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the [gold] of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

24. then you will look on gold as dust, gold of Ophir as pebbles from a stream.

25. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.

25. For the Almighty will be your gold and your sparkling silver.

26. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

26. For then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.

27. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

27. You will pray to him and he will hear, and you will fulfill your vows.

28. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

28. You will succeed in your decision, and light will shine upon your way.

29. When [men] are cast down, then thou shalt say, [There is] lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

29. For God brings down the proud and saves the downcast.

30. He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.

30. He who rescues the innocent man, will rescue you too if your hands are clean.