New King James Version

New Living Translation

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

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

2“Can a person do anything to help God? Can even a wise person be helpful to him?

3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless?

3Is it any advantage to the Almighty if you are righteous? Would it be any gain to him if you were perfect?

4“Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you, And enters into judgment with you?

4Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you and brings judgment against you?

5Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquity without end?

5No, it’s because of your wickedness! There’s no limit to your sins.

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

6“For example, you must have lent money to your friend and demanded clothing as security. Yes, you stripped him to the bone.

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

7You must have refused water for the thirsty and food for the hungry.

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

8You probably think the land belongs to the powerful and only the privileged have a right to it!

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

9You must have sent widows away empty-handed and crushed the hopes of orphans.

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

10That is why you are surrounded by traps and tremble from sudden fears.

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

11That is why you cannot see in the darkness, and waves of water cover you.

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

12“God is so great—higher than the heavens, higher than the farthest stars.

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

13But you reply, ‘That’s why God can’t see what I am doing! How can he judge through the thick darkness?

14Thick clouds cover Him, so that He cannot see, And He walks above the circle of heaven.’

14For thick clouds swirl about him, and he cannot see us. He is way up there, walking on the vault of heaven.’

15Will you keep to the old way Which wicked men have trod,

15“Will you continue on the old paths where evil people have walked?

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

16They were snatched away in the prime of life, the foundations of their lives washed away.

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

17For they said to God, ‘Leave us alone! What can the Almighty do to us?’

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

18Yet he was the one who filled their homes with good things, so I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.

19“The righteous see it and are glad, And the innocent laugh at them:

19“The righteous will be happy to see the wicked destroyed, and the innocent will laugh in contempt.

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

20They will say, ‘See how our enemies have been destroyed. The last of them have been consumed in the fire.’

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

21“Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you.

22Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart.

22Listen to his instructions, and store them in your heart.

23If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; You will remove iniquity far from your tents.

23If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored— so clean up your life.

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

24If you give up your lust for money and throw your precious gold into the river,

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

25the Almighty himself will be your treasure. He will be your precious silver!

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

26“Then you will take delight in the Almighty and look up to God.

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

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

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

28You will succeed in whatever you choose to do, and light will shine on the road ahead of you.

29When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’ Then He will save the humble person.

29If people are in trouble and you say, ‘Help them,’ God will save them.

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

30Even sinners will be rescued; they will be rescued because your hands are pure.”

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

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.