Then Eliphaz the Temanite
1responded
,
"Can a vigorous aman be of use
to God
, Or
a wise
man be useful
to himself?
"Is there any pleasure to 1the Almighty
if
you are righteous
, Or
profit
if
you make
your ways
perfect
?
"Is it because of your 1reverence
that He reproves
you, That He aenters
into judgment
against
you?
"Is not ayour wickedness great
, And your iniquities
without
end
?
"For you have ataken pledges
of your brothers
without
cause
, And bstripped
1men naked
.
"To the weary you have agiven
no
water
to drink
, And from the hungry
you have bwithheld
bread
.
"But the earth abelongs to the bmighty
man
, And cthe honorable
man dwells
in it.
"You have sent awidows
away
empty
, And the 1strength
of the borphans
has been crushed
.
"Therefore asnares
surround
you, And sudden
bdread
terrifies
you,
Or adarkness
, so that you cannot
see
, And an babundance
of water
covers
you.
"Is not God ain the height
of heaven
? Look
also at the 1distant
stars
, how
high
they are!
"You say, ` aWhat
does God
know
? Can He judge
through
the thick
darkness
?
` aClouds are a hiding
place
for Him, so that He cannot
see
; And He walks
on the 1vault
of heaven
.'
"Will you keep to the ancient
path
Which
awicked
men
have trod
,
Who were snatched
away
abefore their time
, Whose bfoundations
were 1washed
away
by a river
?
"They asaid to God
, `Depart
from us!' And `What
can 1the Almighty
do
to them?'
"Yet He afilled their houses
with good
things; But bthe counsel
of the wicked
is far
from me.
"The arighteous see
and are glad
, And the innocent
mock
them,
Saying, `Truly our adversaries
are cut
off
, And their 1abundance
athe fire
has consumed
.'
" 1 aYield now
and be at peace
with Him; Thereby good
will come
to you.
"Please receive
1 ainstruction
from His mouth
And establish
His words
in your heart
.
"If you areturn
to 1the Almighty
, you will be 2restored
; If you bremove
unrighteousness
far
from your tent
,
And aplace your 1gold
in the dust
, And the gold of Ophir
among the stones
of the brooks
,
Then 1the Almighty will be your 2gold
And choice
silver
to you.
"For then you will adelight
in 1the Almighty
And lift
up your face
to God
.
"You will apray to Him, and bHe will hear
you; And you will pay
your vows
.
"You will also decree a thing
, and it will be established
for you; And alight
will shine
on your ways
.
"When 1you are cast
down
, you will speak
with 2confidence
, And the 3 ahumble
person
He will save
.
"He will deliver one who is not innocent
, And he will be adelivered
through the cleanness
of your hands
."