¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

^{2 Ref} Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be 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} Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?

^{5 Ref} Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?

^{6 Ref} For thou hast taken a pledge from 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 honourable man 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, 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, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

^{14 Ref} Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

^{15 Ref} Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

^{16 Ref} Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

^{17 Ref} Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?

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

^{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 thine heart.

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

^{24 Ref} Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

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

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

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

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

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

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