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.

¹ And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: --

^{2 Ref} To God is a man profitable, Because a wise man to himself is profitable?

^{3 Ref} Is it a delight to the Mighty One That thou art righteous? is it gain, That thou makest perfect thy ways?

^{4 Ref} Because of thy reverence Doth He reason `with' thee? He entereth with thee into judgment:

^{5 Ref} Is not thy wickedness abundant? And there is no end to thine iniquities.

^{6 Ref} For thou takest a pledge of thy brother for nought, And the garments of the naked Thou dost strip off.

^{7 Ref} Thou causest not the weary to drink water, And from the hungry thou withholdest bread.

^{8 Ref} As to the man of arm -- he hath the earth, And the accepted of face -- he dwelleth in it.

^{9 Ref} Widows thou hast sent away empty, And the arms of the fatherless are bruised.

^{10 Ref} Therefore round about thee `are' snares, And trouble thee doth fear suddenly.

^{11 Ref} Or darkness -- thou dost not see, And abundance of waters doth cover thee.

^{12 Ref} Is not God high `in' heaven? And see the summit of the stars, That they are high.

^{13 Ref} And thou hast said, `What -- hath God known? Through thickness doth He judge?

^{14 Ref} Thick clouds `are' a secret place to Him, And He doth not see;' And the circle of the heavens He walketh habitually,

^{15 Ref} The path of the age dost thou observe, That men of iniquity have trodden?

^{16 Ref} Who have been cut down unexpectedly, A flood is poured out on their foundation.

^{17 Ref} Those saying to God, `Turn aside from us,' And what doth the Mighty One to them?

^{18 Ref} And he hath filled their houses `with' good: (And the counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)

^{19 Ref} See do the righteous and they rejoice, And the innocent mocketh at them,

^{20 Ref} `Surely our substance hath not been cut off, And their excellency hath fire consumed.'

^{21 Ref} Acquaint thyself, I pray thee, with Him, And be at peace, Thereby thine increase `is' good.

^{22 Ref} Receive, I pray thee, from His mouth a law, And set His sayings in thy heart.

^{23 Ref} If thou dost return unto the Mighty Thou art built up, Thou puttest iniquity far from thy tents.

^{24 Ref} So as to set on the dust a defence, And on a rock of the valleys a covering.

^{25 Ref} And the Mighty hath been thy defence, And silver `is' strength to thee.

^{26 Ref} For then on the Mighty thou delightest thyself, And dost lift up unto God thy face,

^{27 Ref} Thou dost make supplication unto Him, And He doth hear thee, And thy vows thou completest.

^{28 Ref} And thou decreest a saying, And it is established to thee, And on thy ways hath light shone.

^{29 Ref} For they have made low, And thou sayest, `Lift up.' And the bowed down of eyes he saveth.

^{30 Ref} He delivereth the not innocent, Yea, he hath been delivered By the cleanness of thy hands.

¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

^{2 Ref} "Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.

^{3 Ref} Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him, that you make your ways perfect?

^{4 Ref} Is it for your piety that he reproves you, That he enters with you into judgment?

^{5 Ref} Isn't your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.

^{6 Ref} For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, And stripped the naked of their clothing.

^{7 Ref} You haven't given water to the weary to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry.

^{8 Ref} But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it.

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

^{10 Ref} Therefore snares are round about you. Sudden fear troubles you,

^{11 Ref} Or darkness, so that you can not see, And floods of waters cover you.

^{12 Ref} "Isn't God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the stars, how high they are!

^{13 Ref} You say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

^{14 Ref} Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn't see. He walks on the vault of the sky.'

^{15 Ref} Will you 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 to 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; The innocent ridicule them,

^{20 Ref} Saying, 'Surely those who rose up against us are cut off, The fire has consumed the remnant of them.'

^{21 Ref} "Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace. Thereby good shall come to you.

^{22 Ref} Please receive instruction from his mouth, And lay up his words in your heart.

^{23 Ref} If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, If you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.

^{24 Ref} Lay your treasure in the dust, The gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.

^{25 Ref} The Almighty will be your treasure, Precious silver to you.

^{26 Ref} For then shall you delight yourself in the Almighty, And shall lift up your face to God.

^{27 Ref} You shall make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You shall pay your vows.

^{28 Ref} You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you. Light shall shine on your ways.

^{29 Ref} When they cast down, you shall say, 'be lifted up.' He will save the humble person.

^{30 Ref} He will even deliver him who is not innocent; Yes, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."