Job 22

And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, 2 “Can a man be useful to God? For the one being wise is useful to himself. 3 {Is it} pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or if {it is} gain that you perfect your ways? \* 4 For your fear does he rebuke you, enter into judgment with you? 5 Is not your wickedness great? And there is no end to your iniquities! \* 6 For you have bound your brother {with a pledge} without cause, and you have stripped off the clothing of the naked. 7 You have not quenched the weary with water, and from the hungry you have withheld bread. 8 But the man of arm, the earth {was} to him, and the lifted of face dwelt upon it. \* 9 You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. 10 Therefore snares {are} around you and fear suddenly terrifies you. 11 Or darkness—you cannot see! And an abundance of waters covers you. \* 12 Is not God in the height of the heavens? And behold the head of the stars, that they are high! 13 But you say, ‘What does God know? Will he judge through thick darkness? 14 Clouds {are} a covering to him and he does not see; indeed, he walks around on the dome of the heavens.’ \* 15 Will you keep the old way that men of iniquity have walked, 16 who were carried off and {it was} not time; their foundations were washed away by a torrent; 17 the ones saying to God, ‘Turn away from us,’ and, ‘What will the Almighty do to them?’ \* 18 Yet he filled their houses with good, so {may} the counsel of the wicked {be} far from me! 19 The righteous see and rejoice, and the innocent scorn them. 20 ‘If our enemy is not cut off? And fire has devoured their possessions!’ \* 21 Reconcile now with him and be at peace; by these, good will come to you. 22 Now accept instruction from his mouth, and set his words in your heart. \* 23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up, if you distance unrighteousness from your tent. 24 And set gold in the dust, and Ophir among the stones of the torrents, 25 then the Almighty will be your golds and silver of heights to you. \* 26 For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and you will lift your face to God. 27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and your vows you will pay. 28 And you will decree a word and it will stand for you, and on your paths light will shine. \* 29 When they cast down and you say, ‘Lifting up!’ then he will save the lowered of eyes. 30 He will rescue the not-innocent, indeed, he will be rescued through the cleanness of your hands.” \*