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.