| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered: | 1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: |
| 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 man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise person benefit him? |
| 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? | 3What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would he gain if your ways were blameless? |
| 4Is it because of your piety that he rebukes you and goes to judgment with you? | 4"Is it for your piety that he rebukes you and brings charges against you? |
| 5Is not your wickedness great and is there no end to your iniquity? | 5Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless? |
| 6"For you took pledges from your brothers for no reason, and you stripped the clothing from the naked. | 6You demanded security from your relatives for no reason; you stripped people of their clothing, leaving them naked. |
| 7You gave the weary no water to drink and from the hungry you withheld food. | 7You gave no water to the weary and you withheld food from the hungry, |
| 8Although you were a powerful man, owning land, an honored man living on it, | 8though you were a powerful man, owning land-- an honored man, living on it. |
| 9you sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of the orphans you crushed. | 9And you sent widows away empty-handed and broke the strength of the fatherless. |
| 10That is why snares surround you, and why sudden fear terrifies you, | 10That is why snares are all around you, why sudden peril terrifies you, |
| 11why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you. | 11why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood 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 heights of heaven? And see how lofty are the highest stars! |
| 13But you have said, 'What does God know? Does he judge through such deep darkness? | 13Yet you say, 'What does God know? Does he judge through such 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.' | 14Thick clouds veil him, so he does not see us as he goes about in the vaulted heavens.' |
| 15Will you keep to the old path that evil men have walked-- | 15Will you keep to the old path that the wicked have trod? |
| 16men who were carried off before their time, when the flood was poured out on their foundations? | 16They were carried off before their time, their foundations washed away by a flood. |
| 17They were saying to God, 'Turn away from us,' and 'What can the Almighty do to us?' | 17They said to God, 'Leave us alone! What can the Almighty do to us?' |
| 18But it was he who filled their houses with good things--yet the counsel of the wicked was far from me. | 18Yet it was he who filled their houses with good things, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked. |
| 19The righteous see their destruction and rejoice; the innocent mock them scornfully, saying, | 19The righteous see their ruin and rejoice; the innocent mock them, saying, |
| 20Surely our enemies are destroyed, and fire consumes their wealth.' | 20Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire devours their wealth.' |
| 21"Reconcile yourself with God, and be at peace with him; in this way your prosperity will be good. | 21"Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. |
| 22Accept instruction from his mouth and store up his words in your heart. | 22Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up 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, | 23If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from your tent |
| 24and throw your gold in the dust--your gold of Ophir among the rocks in the ravines-- | 24and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, |
| 25then the Almighty himself will be your gold, and the choicest silver for you. | 25then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you. |
| 26Surely then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and will lift up your face toward God. | 26Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God. |
| 27You will pray to him and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows to him. | 27You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows. |
| 28Whatever you decide on a matter, it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways. | 28What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways. |
| 29When people are brought low and you say 'Lift them up!' then he will save the downcast; | 29When people are brought low and you say, 'Lift them up!' then he will save the downcast. |
| 30he will deliver even someone who is not innocent, who will escape through the cleanness of your hands." | 30He will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands." |
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