The Book of Job

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 22 -

Eliphaz accuses Job of wickedness

And Eliphaz the Temanite answers and says:

“Is a man profitable to God, || Because a wise man is profitable to himself?

Is it a delight to the Mighty One || That you are righteous? Is it gain, || That you make your ways perfect?

Because of your reverence || Does He reason [with] you? He enters with you into judgment:

Is your wickedness not abundant? And there is no end to your iniquities.

For you take a pledge of your brother for nothing, || And you strip off the garments of the naked.

You do not cause the weary to drink water, || And you withhold bread from the hungry.

As for the man of arm—he has the earth, || And the accepted of face—he dwells in it.

You have sent widows away empty, || And the arms of the fatherless are bruised.

Therefore snares [are] all around you, || And sudden fear troubles you.

Or darkness—you do not see, || And abundance of waters covers you.

Is God not high [in] the heavens? And see the summit of the stars, || That they are high.

And you have said, How has God known? Does He judge through thickness?

Thick clouds [are] a secret place to Him, || And He does not see, || And He habitually walks [above] the circle of the heavens.

Do you observe the path of the age, || That men of iniquity have trodden,

Who have been cut down unexpectedly? A flood is poured out on their foundation.

Those saying to God, Turn aside from us, || And what does the Mighty One do to them?

And He has filled their houses [with] good (And the counsel of the wicked || Has been far from me).

The righteous see and they rejoice, || And the innocent mocks at them:

Surely our substance has not been cut off, || And fire has consumed their excellence.

Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace, || Thereby your increase [is] good.

Please receive a law from His mouth, || And set His sayings in your heart.

If you return to the Mighty you are built up, || You put iniquity far from your tents.

So as to set a defense on the dust, || And a covering on a rock of the valleys.

And the Mighty has been your defense, || And silver [is] strength to you.

For then you delight yourself on the Mighty, || And lift up your face to God,

You make supplication to Him, || And He hears you, || And you complete your vows.

And you decree a saying, || And it is established to you, || And light has shone on your ways.

For they have made low, || And you say, Lift up. And He saves the bowed down of eyes.

He delivers the one [who is] not innocent, || Indeed, he has been delivered || By the cleanness of your hands.”

Eliphaz accuses Job of wickedness

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

“Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him that you make your ways perfect?

Is it for your piety that he reproves you, that he enters with you into judgment?

Isn’t your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.

For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

You haven’t given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it.

You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

Therefore snares are around you. Sudden fear troubles you,

or darkness, so that you can not see, and floods of waters cover you.

“Isn’t God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the stars, how high they are!

You say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn’t see. He walks on the vault of the sky.’

Will you keep the old way, which wicked men have trodden,

who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream,

who said to God, ‘Depart from us!’ and, ‘What can the Almighty do for us?’

Yet he filled their houses with good things, but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

The righteous see it, and are glad. The innocent ridicule them,

saying, ‘Surely those who rose up against us are cut off. The fire has consumed their remnant.’

“Acquaint yourself with him now, and be at peace. By it, good will come to you.

Please receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.

If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up, if you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.

Lay your treasure in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.

The Almighty will be your treasure, and precious silver to you.

For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and will lift up your face to God.

You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You will pay your vows.

You will also decree a thing, and it will be established to you. Light will shine on your ways.

When they cast down, you will say, ‘be lifted up.’ He will save the humble person.

He will even deliver him who is not innocent. Yes, he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”