Chapter 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered ,
2 " Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself .
3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous ? Or does it benefit him that you make your ways perfect ?
4 Is it for your piety that he reproves you , that he enters with you into judgement?
5 Isn’t your wickedness great ? Neither is there any end to your iniquities .
6 For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing , and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 You haven’t given water to the weary to drink , and you have withheld bread from the hungry .
8 But as for the mighty man , he had the earth. The honourable man , he lived in it .
9 You have sent widows away empty , and the arms of the fatherless have been broken .
10 Therefore snares are around you . Sudden fear troubles you ,
11 or darkness , so that you can not see , and floods of waters cover you .
12 "Isn’t God in the heights of heaven ? See the height of the stars , how high they are !
13 You say, ‘ What does God know ? Can he judge through the thick darkness ?
14 Thick clouds are a covering to him , so that he doesn’t see . He walks on the vault of the sky .’
15 Will you keep the old way, which wicked men have trodden ,
16 who were snatched away before their time , whose foundation was poured out as a stream ,
17 who said to God, ‘ Depart from us !’ and , ‘ What can the Almighty do for us ?’
18 Yet he filled their houses with good things , but the counsel of the wicked is far from me .
19 The righteous see it , and are glad . The innocent ridicule them ,
20 saying, ‘ Surely those who rose up against us are cut off . The fire has consumed their remnant .’
21 " Acquaint yourself with him now , and be at peace . By it , good will come to you .
22 Please receive instruction from his mouth , and lay up his words in your heart .
23 If you return to the Almighty , you will be built up , if you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.
24 Lay your treasure in the dust , the gold of Ophir amongst the stones of the brooks .
25 The Almighty will be your treasure, and precious silver to you .
26 For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty , and will lift up your face to God.
27 You will make your prayer to him , and he will hear you . You will pay your vows .
28 You will also decree a thing, and it will be established to you . Light will shine on your ways .
29 When they cast down , you will say, ‘ be lifted up .’ He will save the humble person .
30 He will even deliver him who is not innocent . Yes, he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands ."