Eliphaz Speaks: Job's Wickedness Is Great

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

2‘Can a mortal be of use to God?

Can even the wisest be of service to him?

3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty22.3 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai if you are righteous,

or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?

4Is it for your piety that he reproves you,

and enters into judgement with you?

5Is not your wickedness great?

There is no end to your iniquities.

6For you have exacted pledges from your family for no reason,

and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7You have given no water to the weary to drink,

and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

8The powerful possess the land,

and the favoured live in it.

9You have sent widows away empty-handed,

and the arms of the orphans you have crushed.22.9 Gk Syr Tg Vg: Heb were crushed

10Therefore snares are around you,

and sudden terror overwhelms you,

11or darkness so that you cannot see;

a flood of water covers you.

12‘Is not God high in the heavens?

See the highest stars, how lofty they are!

13Therefore you say, “What does God know?

Can he judge through the deep darkness?

14Thick clouds enwrap him, so that he does not see,

and he walks on the dome of heaven.”

15Will you keep to the old way

that the wicked have trod?

16They were snatched away before their time;

their foundation was washed away by a flood.

17They said to God, “Leave us alone”,

and “What can the Almighty22.17 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai do to us?”22.17 Gk Syr: Heb them

18Yet he filled their houses with good things—

but the plans of the wicked are repugnant to me.

19The righteous see it and are glad;

the innocent laugh them to scorn,

20saying, “Surely our adversaries are cut off,

and what they left, the fire has consumed.”

21‘Agree with God,22.21 Heb him and be at peace;

in this way good will come to you.

22Receive instruction from his mouth,

and lay up his words in your heart.

23If you return to the Almighty,22.23 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai you will be restored,

if you remove unrighteousness from your tents,

24if you treat gold like dust,

and gold of Ophir like the stones of the torrent-bed,

25and if the Almighty22.25 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai is your gold

and your precious silver,

26then you will delight in the Almighty,22.26 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai

and lift up your face to God.

27You will pray to him, and he will hear you,

and you will pay your vows.

28You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you,

and light will shine on your ways.

29When others are humiliated, you say it is pride;

for he saves the humble.

30He will deliver even those who are guilty;

they will escape because of the cleanness of your hands.’22.30 Meaning of Heb uncertain