22:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
22:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

22:2 Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
22:2 "Can a man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?

22:3 [Is it] any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or [is it] gain [to him], that thou makest thy ways perfect?
22:3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless?

22:4 Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?
22:4 "Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you, And enters into judgment with you?

22:5 [Is] not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?
22:5 Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquity without end?

22:6 For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
22:6 For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason, And stripped the naked of their clothing.

22:7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
22:7 You have not given the weary water to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry.

22:8 But [as for] the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.
22:8 But the mighty man possessed the land, And the honorable man dwelt in it.

22:9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
22:9 You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the fatherless was crushed.

22:10 Therefore snares [are] round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;
22:10 Therefore snares are all around you, And sudden fear troubles you,

22:11 Or darkness, [that] thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.
22:11 Or darkness so that you cannot see; And an abundance of water covers you.

22:12 [Is] not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
22:12 "Is not God in the height of heaven? And see the highest stars, how lofty they are!

22:13 And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?
22:13 And you say, 'What does God know? Can He judge through the deep darkness?

22:14 Thick clouds [are] a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.
22:14 Thick clouds cover Him, so that He cannot see, And He walks above the circle of heaven.'

22:15 Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
22:15 Will you keep to the old way Which wicked men have trod,

22:16 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:
22:16 Who were cut down before their time, Whose foundations were swept away by a flood?

22:17 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
22:17 They said to God, 'Depart from us! What can the Almighty do to them?'

22:18 Yet he filled their houses with good [things]: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
22:18 Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

22:19 The righteous see [it], and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
22:19 "The righteous see it and are glad, And the innocent laugh at them:

22:20 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.
22:20 'Surely our adversaries are cut down, And the fire consumes their remnant.'

22:21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
22:21 "Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you.

22:22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
22:22 Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart.

22:23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.
22:23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; You will remove iniquity far from your tents.

22:24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the [gold] of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
22:24 Then you will lay your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.

22:25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.
22:25 Yes, the Almighty will be your gold And your precious silver;

22:26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
22:26 For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, And lift up your face to God.

22:27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.
22:27 You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, And you will pay your vows.

22:28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
22:28 You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways.

22:29 When [men] are cast down, then thou shalt say, [There is] lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
22:29 When they cast you down, and you say, 'Exaltation will come!' Then He will save the humble person.

22:30 He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.
22:30 He will even deliver one who is not innocent; Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands."