22 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.