New King James Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

2“Can a man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?

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

3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it 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?

4“Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you, And enters into 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 your iniquity without end?

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

6For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason, And stripped the naked of their clothing.

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

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

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

8But the mighty man possessed the land, And the honorable man dwelt in it.

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

9You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the fatherless was crushed.

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

10Therefore snares are all around you, And sudden fear troubles you,

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

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

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

12“Is not God in the height of heaven? And see the highest stars, how lofty they are!

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

13And you say, ‘What does God know? Can He judge through the deep darkness?

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

14Thick clouds cover Him, so that He cannot see, And He walks above the circle 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 way Which wicked men have trod,

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

16Who were cut down before their time, Whose foundations were swept away by a flood?

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

17They said to God, ‘Depart from us! What can the Almighty do to them?’

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

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

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 at them:

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

20‘Surely our adversaries are cut down, And the fire consumes their remnant.’

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

21“Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you.

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

22Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay 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; You will remove iniquity far from your tents.

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

24Then you will lay your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.

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

25Yes, the Almighty will be your gold And your precious silver;

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

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

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

27You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, And you will pay your vows.

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

28You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So 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 they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’ Then He will save the humble person.

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

30He will even deliver one who is not innocent; Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.”

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org