NET Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

2"Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit? Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable?

2"Can a vigorous man be of use to God, Or a wise man be useful to himself?

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?

3"Is there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, Or profit if you make your ways perfect?

4Is it because of your piety that he rebukes you and goes to judgment with you?

4"Is it because of your reverence that He reproves you, That He enters into judgment against you?

5Is not your wickedness great and is there no end to your iniquity?

5"Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquities without end?

6"For you took pledges from your brothers for no reason, and you stripped the clothing from the naked.

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

7You gave the weary no water to drink and from the hungry you withheld food.

7"To the weary you have given no water to drink, And from the hungry you have withheld bread.

8Although you were a powerful man, owning land, an honored man living on it,

8"But the earth belongs to the mighty man, And the honorable man dwells in it.

9you sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of the orphans you crushed.

9"You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the orphans has been crushed.

10That is why snares surround you, and why sudden fear terrifies you,

10"Therefore snares surround you, And sudden dread terrifies you,

11why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you.

11Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And an abundance of water covers you.

12"Is not God on high in heaven? And see the lofty stars, how high they are!

12"Is not God in the height of heaven? Look also at the distant stars, how high they are!

13But you have said, 'What does God know? Does he judge through such deep darkness?

13"You say, 'What does God know? Can He judge through the thick darkness?

14Thick clouds are a veil for him, so he does not see us, as he goes back and forth in the vault of heaven.'

14'Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see; And He walks on the vault of heaven.'

15Will you keep to the old path that evil men have walked--

15"Will you keep to the ancient path Which wicked men have trod,

16men who were carried off before their time, when the flood was poured out on their foundations?

16Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were washed away by a river?

17They were saying to God, 'Turn away from us,' and 'What can the Almighty do to us?'

17"They said to God, 'Depart from us!' And 'What can the Almighty do to them?'

18But it was he who filled their houses with good things--yet the counsel of the wicked was far from me.

18"Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19The righteous see their destruction and rejoice; the innocent mock them scornfully, saying,

19"The righteous see and are glad, And the innocent mock them,

20Surely our enemies are destroyed, and fire consumes their wealth.'

20Saying, 'Truly our adversaries are cut off, And their abundance the fire has consumed.'

21"Reconcile yourself with God, and be at peace with him; in this way your prosperity will be good.

21"Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you.

22Accept instruction from his mouth and store up his words in your heart.

22"Please receive instruction from His mouth And establish His words in your heart.

23If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; if you remove wicked behavior far from your tent,

23"If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent,

24and throw your gold in the dust--your gold of Ophir among the rocks in the ravines--

24And place your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,

25then the Almighty himself will be your gold, and the choicest silver for you.

25Then the Almighty will be your gold And choice silver to you.

26Surely then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and will lift up your face toward God.

26"For then you will delight in the Almighty And lift up your face to God.

27You will pray to him and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows to him.

27"You will pray to Him, and He will hear you; And you will pay your vows.

28Whatever you decide on a matter, it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.

28"You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.

29When people are brought low and you say 'Lift them up!' then he will save the downcast;

29"When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, And the humble person He will save.

30he will deliver even someone who is not innocent, who will escape through the cleanness of your hands."

30"He will deliver one who is not innocent, And he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."

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