< Job 22

[1] Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

[2] Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

[3] Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

[4] Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?

[5] Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?

[6] For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

[7] Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

[8] But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.

[9] Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

[10] Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;

[11] Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.

[12] Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

[13] And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

[14] Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

[15] Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

[16] Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

[17] Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?

[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: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.

[20] Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.

[21] Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

[22] Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

[23] If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

[24] Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

[25] Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.

[26] For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

[27] Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

[28] Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

[29] When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

[30] He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.