¹ Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

^{2 Ref} Can a man be profitable unto God? Surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself.

^{3 Ref} Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain `to him', that thou makest thy ways perfect?

^{4 Ref} Is it for thy fear `of him' that he reproveth thee, That he entereth with thee into judgment?

^{5 Ref} Is not thy wickedness great? Neither is there any end to thine iniquities.

^{6 Ref} For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, And stripped the naked of their clothing.

^{7 Ref} Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, And thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

^{8 Ref} But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; And the honorable man, he dwelt in it.

^{9 Ref} Thou hast sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

^{10 Ref} Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden fear troubleth thee,

^{11 Ref} Or darkness, so that thou canst not see, And abundance of waters cover thee.

^{12 Ref} Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

^{13 Ref} And thou sayest, What doth God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

^{14 Ref} Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he seeth not; And he walketh on the vault of heaven.

^{15 Ref} Wilt thou keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden?

^{16 Ref} Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,

^{17 Ref} Who said unto God, Depart from us; And, What can the Almighty do for us?

^{18 Ref} Yet he filled their houses with good things: But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

^{19 Ref} The righteous see it, and are glad; And the innocent laugh them to scorn,

^{20 Ref} `Saying', Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, And the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.

^{21 Ref} Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: Thereby good shall come unto thee.

^{22 Ref} Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, And lay up his words in thy heart.

^{23 Ref} If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, If thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents.

^{24 Ref} And lay thou `thy' treasure in the dust, And `the gold of' Ophir among the stones of the brooks;

^{25 Ref} And the Almighty will be thy treasure, And precious silver unto thee.

^{26 Ref} For then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty, And shalt lift up thy face unto God.

^{27 Ref} Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he will hear thee; And thou shalt pay thy vows.

^{28 Ref} Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; And light shall shine upon thy ways.

^{29 Ref} When they cast `thee' down, thou shalt say, `There is' lifting up; And the humble person he will save.

^{30 Ref} He will deliver `even' him that is not innocent: Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.

¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,

^{2 Ref} Is it possible for a man to be of profit to God? No, for a man's wisdom is only of profit to himself.

^{3 Ref} 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?

^{4 Ref} Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?

^{5 Ref} Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.

^{6 Ref} 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.

^{7 Ref} You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.

^{8 Ref} For it was the man with power who had the land, and the man with an honoured name who was living in it.

^{9 Ref} You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father.

^{10 Ref} For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.

^{11 Ref} Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.

^{12 Ref} Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!

^{13 Ref} And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?

^{14 Ref} Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.

^{15 Ref} Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?

^{16 Ref} Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:

^{17 Ref} Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?

^{18 Ref} Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!

^{19 Ref} The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,

^{20 Ref} Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.

^{21 Ref} Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.

^{22 Ref} Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.

^{23 Ref} If you come back to the Ruler of all, making yourself low before him; if you put evil far away from your tents;

^{24 Ref} And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;

^{25 Ref} Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;

^{26 Ref} For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.

^{27 Ref} You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.

^{28 Ref} Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.

^{29 Ref} For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.

^{30 Ref} He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.