1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

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

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? or is it gain to him, that you make your ways perfect?

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

5 Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities infinite?

6 For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7 You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honorable man dwelled in it.

9 You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10 Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubles you;

11 Or darkness, that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you.

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

13 And you say, How does God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he sees not; and he walks in the circuit of heaven.

15 Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

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

17 Which said to 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 consumes.

21 Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come to you.

22 Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.

23 If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tabernacles.

24 Then shall you lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

25 Yes, the Almighty shall be your defense, and you shall have plenty of silver.

26 For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face to God.

27 You shall make your prayer to him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows.

28 You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you: and the light shall shine on your ways.

29 When men are cast down, then you shall 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 your hands.

1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

2 Can a man be profitable unto God?

Surely he that is wise is 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 Is it for thy fear of him that he reproveth thee,

That he entereth with thee into judgment?

5 Is not thy wickedness great?

Neither is there any end to thine iniquities.

6 For thou hast taken pledges of 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 honorable man, he 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, so 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, What doth God know?

Can he judge through the thick darkness?

14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he seeth not;

And he walketh on the vault of heaven.

15 Wilt thou keep the old way

Which wicked men have trodden?

16 Who were snatched away before their time,

Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,

17 Who said unto God, Depart from us;

And, What can the Almighty do for us?

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 Saying, Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off,

And the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.

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 thy heart.

23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up,

If thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents.

24 And lay thou thy treasure in the dust,

And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;

25 And the Almighty will be thy treasure,

And precious silver unto thee.

26 For then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty,

And shalt lift up thy face unto God.

27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he will hear thee;

And thou shalt pay thy vows.

28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee;

And light shall shine upon thy ways.

29 When they cast thee down, thou shalt say, There is lifting up;

And the humble person he will save.

30 He will deliver even him that is not innocent:

Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.