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Eliphaz Accuses Job of Wickedness

22 Then (A)Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

“Can(B) a man be profitable to God,
Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous?
Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless?

“Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you,
And enters into judgment with you?
Is not your wickedness great,
And your iniquity without end?
For you have (C)taken pledges from your brother for no reason,
And stripped the naked of their clothing.
You have not given the weary water to drink,
And you (D)have withheld bread from the hungry.
But the [a]mighty man possessed the land,
And the honorable man dwelt in it.
You have sent widows away empty,
And the [b]strength of the fatherless was crushed.
10 Therefore snares are all around you,
And sudden fear troubles you,
11 Or darkness so that you cannot see;
And an abundance of (E)water covers you.

12 “Is not God in the height of heaven?
And see the highest stars, how lofty they are!
13 And you say, (F)‘What does God know?
Can He judge through the deep darkness?
14 (G)Thick clouds cover Him, so that He cannot see,
And He walks above the circle of heaven.’
15 Will you keep to the old way
Which wicked men have trod,
16 Who (H)were cut down before their time,
Whose foundations were swept away by a flood?
17 (I)They said to God, ‘Depart from us!
What can the Almighty do to [c]them?’
18 Yet He filled their houses with good things;
But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19 “The(J) righteous see it and are glad,
And the innocent laugh at them:
20 ‘Surely our [d]adversaries are cut down,
And the fire consumes their remnant.’

21 “Now acquaint yourself with Him, and (K)be at peace;
Thereby good will come to you.
22 Receive, please, (L)instruction from His mouth,
And (M)lay up His words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up;
You will remove iniquity far from your tents.
24 Then you will (N)lay your gold in the dust,
And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.
25 Yes, the Almighty will be your [e]gold
And your precious silver;
26 For then you will have your (O)delight in the Almighty,
And lift up your face to God.
27 (P)You will make your prayer to Him,
He will hear you,
And you will pay your vows.
28 You will also declare a thing,
And it will be established for you;
So light will shine on your ways.
29 When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!
Then (Q)He will save the humble person.
30 He will even deliver one who is not innocent;
Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 22:8 Lit. man of arm
  2. Job 22:9 Lit. arms
  3. Job 22:17 LXX, Syr. us
  4. Job 22:20 LXX substance is
  5. Job 22:25 Ancient vss. suggest defense; MT gold, as in v. 24

Eliphaz Accuses and Exhorts Job

22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

“Can a strong (A)man be of use to God,
Or a wise one be useful to himself?
Is it any pleasure to [a]the Almighty if you are righteous,
Or gain if you make your ways blameless?
Is it because of your [b]reverence that He punishes you,
That He (B)enters into judgment against you?
Is (C)your wickedness not abundant,
And is there no end to your guilty deeds?
For you have (D)seized pledges from your brothers without cause,
And [c](E)stripped people naked.
You have (F)given the weary no water to drink,
And you have (G)withheld bread from the hungry.
But the earth (H)belongs to the (I)powerful man,
And (J)the one who is honorable dwells on it.
You have sent (K)widows away empty,
And the [d]strength of (L)orphans has been crushed.
10 Therefore (M)traps surround you,
And sudden (N)dread terrifies you,
11 Or (O)darkness, so that you cannot see,
And a (P)flood of water covers you.

12 “Is God not (Q)in the height of heaven?
Look also at the [e]highest stars, how high they are!
13 But you say, ‘(R)What does God know?
Can He judge through the thick darkness?
14 (S)Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see;
And He walks on the [f]vault of heaven.’
15 Will you keep to the ancient path
Which (T)wicked people have walked,
16 Who were snatched away (U)before their time,
Whose (V)foundations were [g]washed away by a river?
17 They (W)said to God, ‘Go away from us!’
And ‘What can [h]the Almighty do to them?’
18 Yet He (X)filled their houses with good things;
But (Y)the advice of the wicked is far from me.
19 The (Z)righteous see and are glad,
And the innocent mock them, saying,
20 ‘Truly our enemies are eliminated,
And (AA)fire has consumed their [i]abundance.’

21 (AB)Be reconciled with Him, and be at peace;
Thereby good will come to you.
22 Please receive [j](AC)instruction from His mouth,
And put His words in your heart.
23 If you (AD)return to [k]the Almighty, you will be [l]restored;
If you (AE)remove injustice far from your tent,
24 And (AF)put your [m]gold in the dust,
And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,
25 Then [n]the Almighty will be your [o]gold
And abundant silver to you.
26 For then you will (AG)take pleasure in [p]the Almighty
And lift up your face to God.
27 You will (AH)pray to Him, and (AI)He will hear you;
And you will pay your vows.
28 You will also decide something, and it will be established for you;
And (AJ)light will shine on your ways.
29 When [q]they have brought you low, you will speak with [r]confidence,
And He will save the [s](AK)humble person.
30 He will rescue one who is not innocent,
And he will be (AL)rescued due to the cleanness of your hands.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 22:3 Heb Shaddai
  2. Job 22:4 Or fear
  3. Job 22:6 Lit stripped clothing of the naked
  4. Job 22:9 Lit arms
  5. Job 22:12 Lit head, top-most
  6. Job 22:14 Lit circle
  7. Job 22:16 Lit poured out
  8. Job 22:17 Heb Shaddai
  9. Job 22:20 Or excess
  10. Job 22:22 Or law
  11. Job 22:23 Heb Shaddai
  12. Job 22:23 Lit built up
  13. Job 22:24 Lit ore
  14. Job 22:25 Heb Shaddai
  15. Job 22:25 Lit ore
  16. Job 22:26 Heb Shaddai
  17. Job 22:29 Lit they cast you down
  18. Job 22:29 Lit pride
  19. Job 22:29 Lit lowly of eyes

Eliphaz Accuses and Exhorts Job

22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,


“Can a vigorous man be of use to God,
Or a wise man be useful to himself?(A)

“Is it any pleasure or joy to [a]the Almighty that you are righteous?
Or is it of benefit to Him that you make your ways perfect?(B)

“Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you,
That He enters into judgment against you?

“Is not your wickedness great,
And your sins without end?

“For you have taken pledges of your brothers without cause,
And stripped men naked.

“You have not given water to the weary to drink,
And you have withheld bread from the hungry.(C)

“But the land is possessed by the man with power,
And the favored and honorable man dwells in it.

“You have sent widows away empty-handed,
And the arms (strength) of the fatherless have been broken.
10 
“Therefore snares surround you,
And sudden dread terrifies and overwhelms you;
11 
Or darkness, so that you cannot see,
And a flood of water covers you.

12 
“Is not God in the height of heaven?
And behold the distant stars, how high they are!
13 
“You say, ‘What does God know [about me]?
Can He judge through the thick darkness?
14 
‘Thick clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see,
And He walks on the vault (circle) of the heavens.’
15 
“Will you keep to the ancient path
That wicked men walked [in the time of Noah],(D)
16 
Men who were snatched away before their time,
Whose foundations were poured out like a river?
17 
“They said to God, ‘Depart from us!
What can the Almighty do for us or to us?’
18 
“Yet He filled their houses with good things;
But the counsel of the wicked and ungodly is far from me.
19 
“The righteous see it and are glad;
And the innocent mock and laugh at them, saying,
20 
‘Surely our adversaries are cut off and destroyed,
And fire has consumed their abundance.’

21 
“Now yield and submit yourself to Him [agree with God and be conformed to His will] and be at peace;
In this way [you will prosper and great] good will come to you.
22 
“Please receive the law and instruction from His mouth
And establish His words in your heart and keep them.(E)
23 
“If you return to the Almighty [and submit and humble yourself before Him], you will be built up [and restored];
If you remove unrighteousness far from your tents,
24 
And place your gold in the dust,
And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks [considering it of little value],
25 
And make the Almighty your gold
And your precious silver,
26 
Then you will have delight in the Almighty,
And you will lift up your face to God.
27 
“You will pray to Him, and He will hear you,
And you will pay your vows.
28 
“You will also decide and decree a thing, and it will be established for you;
And the light [of God’s favor] will shine upon your ways.
29 
“When you are cast down and humbled, you will speak with confidence,
And the humble person He will lift up and save.
30 
“He will even rescue the one [for whom you intercede] who is not innocent;
And he will be rescued through the cleanness of your hands.”(F)

Footnotes

  1. Job 22:3 Heb Shaddai, also vv 17, 23, 25, 26.

Eliphaz

22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite(A) replied:

“Can a man be of benefit to God?(B)
    Can even a wise person benefit him?(C)
What pleasure(D) would it give the Almighty if you were righteous?(E)
    What would he gain if your ways were blameless?(F)

“Is it for your piety that he rebukes you
    and brings charges against you?(G)
Is not your wickedness great?
    Are not your sins(H) endless?(I)
You demanded security(J) from your relatives for no reason;(K)
    you stripped people of their clothing, leaving them naked.(L)
You gave no water(M) to the weary
    and you withheld food from the hungry,(N)
though you were a powerful man, owning land(O)
    an honored man,(P) living on it.(Q)
And you sent widows(R) away empty-handed(S)
    and broke the strength of the fatherless.(T)
10 That is why snares(U) are all around you,(V)
    why sudden peril terrifies you,(W)
11 why it is so dark(X) you cannot see,
    and why a flood of water covers you.(Y)

12 “Is not God in the heights of heaven?(Z)
    And see how lofty are the highest stars!
13 Yet you say, ‘What does God know?(AA)
    Does he judge through such darkness?(AB)
14 Thick clouds(AC) veil him, so he does not see us(AD)
    as he goes about in the vaulted heavens.’(AE)
15 Will you keep to the old path
    that the wicked(AF) have trod?(AG)
16 They were carried off before their time,(AH)
    their foundations(AI) washed away by a flood.(AJ)
17 They said to God, ‘Leave us alone!
    What can the Almighty do to us?’(AK)
18 Yet it was he who filled their houses with good things,(AL)
    so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.(AM)
19 The righteous see their ruin and rejoice;(AN)
    the innocent mock(AO) them, saying,
20 ‘Surely our foes are destroyed,(AP)
    and fire(AQ) devours their wealth.’

21 “Submit to God and be at peace(AR) with him;(AS)
    in this way prosperity will come to you.(AT)
22 Accept instruction from his mouth(AU)
    and lay up his words(AV) in your heart.(AW)
23 If you return(AX) to the Almighty, you will be restored:(AY)
    If you remove wickedness far from your tent(AZ)
24 and assign your nuggets(BA) to the dust,
    your gold(BB) of Ophir(BC) to the rocks in the ravines,(BD)
25 then the Almighty will be your gold,(BE)
    the choicest silver for you.(BF)
26 Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty(BG)
    and will lift up your face(BH) to God.(BI)
27 You will pray to him,(BJ) and he will hear you,(BK)
    and you will fulfill your vows.(BL)
28 What you decide on will be done,(BM)
    and light(BN) will shine on your ways.(BO)
29 When people are brought low(BP) and you say, ‘Lift them up!’
    then he will save the downcast.(BQ)
30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent,(BR)
    who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”(BS)

22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

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

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

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

Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?

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

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

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

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.