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."