| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Then in response, Eliphaz from Teman said: | 1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered: |
| 2"Can a human being be useful to God, since he, who is wise, is sufficient to himself? | 2"Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit? Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable? |
| 3Will it please the Almighty if you are innocent, or does he profit if your life is blameless? | 3Is it of any special benefit to the Almighty that you should be righteous, or is it any gain to him that you make your ways blameless? |
| 4Will he acquit you just because you fear him, and render a verdict on your behalf? | 4Is it because of your piety that he rebukes you and goes to judgment with you? |
| 5Your wickedness is great, isn't it? There's no limit to your iniquity, is there? | 5Is not your wickedness great and is there no end to your iniquity? |
| 6"After all, you've taken collateral from your relatives for no reason; you stripped the naked of their clothing. | 6"For you took pledges from your brothers for no reason, and you stripped the clothing from the naked. |
| 7You've neglected to give water to the weary, and you've withheld food from the hungry. | 7You gave the weary no water to drink and from the hungry you withheld food. |
| 8The land belongs to the powerful, and the privileged thrive in it. | 8Although you were a powerful man, owning land, an honored man living on it, |
| 9You sent away widows empty-handed, and broke the outstretched arms of orphans. | 9you sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of the orphans you crushed. |
| 10That's why disaster surrounds you, terror suddenly overwhelms you, | 10That is why snares surround you, and why sudden fear terrifies you, |
| 11you see nothing but darkness, and a flood of troubles drowns you." | 11why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you. |
| 12"Isn't God in heaven above? Consider how far away the stars are, and how lofty they are! | 12"Is not God on high in heaven? And see the lofty stars, how high they are! |
| 13You've asked, 'What does God know? Can he sort through pitch black darkness?' | 13But you have said, 'What does God know? Does he judge through such deep darkness? |
| 14Thick clouds cover him so he can't see as he walks back and forth at heaven's horizon. | 14Thick clouds are a veil for him, so he does not see us, as he goes back and forth in the vault of heaven.' |
| 15"Will you keep walking on the traditional path that sinners have tread, | 15Will you keep to the old path that evil men have walked-- |
| 16who were snatched away before their time; when their foundation was swept away by a river? | 16men who were carried off before their time, when the flood was poured out on their foundations? |
| 17They told God, 'Get away from us!' and 'What will the Almighty do to them?' | 17They were saying to God, 'Turn away from us,' and 'What can the Almighty do to us?' |
| 18"Though God fills their houses with good things, the counsel of the wicked will remain far from me. | 18But it was he who filled their houses with good things--yet the counsel of the wicked was far from me. |
| 19The righteous will see this and rejoice; the innocent will insult him, saying, | 19The righteous see their destruction and rejoice; the innocent mock them scornfully, saying, |
| 20Our enemies are sure to be destroyed, and fire will burn up what's left of their riches." | 20Surely our enemies are destroyed, and fire consumes their wealth.' |
| 21"Get to know God, and you'll be at peace with him, and then prosperity will come to you. | 21"Reconcile yourself with God, and be at peace with him; in this way your prosperity will be good. |
| 22Accept what he has to teach you, and treasure his words in your heart. | 22Accept instruction from his mouth and store up his words in your heart. |
| 23"If you return to the Almighty you'll be restored, as you remove iniquity from your household. | 23If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; if you remove wicked behavior far from your tent, |
| 24Bury your gold nuggets in the dust, and your source of gold among the stones in a streambed, | 24and throw your gold in the dust--your gold of Ophir among the rocks in the ravines-- |
| 25and then the Almighty will be your gold and your refined silver. | 25then the Almighty himself will be your gold, and the choicest silver for you. |
| 26"Then you'll take delight in the Almighty; and will turn your face toward God. | 26Surely then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and will lift up your face toward God. |
| 27You'll entreat him and he'll listen to you as you fulfill your vows. | 27You will pray to him and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows to him. |
| 28When you make a decision on something, it will be established for you, and light will brighten your way. | 28Whatever you decide on a matter, it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways. |
| 29"For when they're humbled, you may respond; 'It's their pride!' but he delivers the humble. | 29When people are brought low and you say 'Lift them up!' then he will save the downcast; |
| 30He'll even deliver the guilty, who will be delivered through your innocence." | 30he will deliver even someone who is not innocent, who will escape through the cleanness of your hands." |
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