22:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
22:2 "Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
22:3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him, that you make your ways perfect?
22:4 Is it for your piety that he reproves you, That he enters with you into judgment?
22:5 Isn't your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.
22:6 For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, And stripped the naked of their clothing.
22:7 You haven't given water to the weary to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry.
22:8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it.
22:9 You have sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
22:10 Therefore snares are round about you. Sudden fear troubles you,
22:11 Or darkness, so that you can not see, And floods of waters cover you.
22:12 "Isn't God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the stars, how high they are!
22:13 You say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?
22:14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn't see. He walks on the vault of the sky.'
22:15 Will you keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden,
22:16 Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,
22:17 Who said to God, 'Depart from us;' And, 'What can the Almighty do for us?'
22:18 Yet he filled their houses with good things, But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
22:19 The righteous see it, and are glad; The innocent ridicule them,
22:20 Saying, 'Surely those who rose up against us are cut off, The fire has consumed the remnant of them.'
22:21 "Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace. Thereby good shall come to you.
22:22 Please receive instruction from his mouth, And lay up his words in your heart.
22:23 If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, If you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.
22:24 Lay your treasure in the dust, The gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.
22:25 The Almighty will be your treasure, Precious silver to you.
22:26 For then shall you delight yourself in the Almighty, And shall lift up your face to God.
22:27 You shall make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You shall pay your vows.
22:28 You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you. Light shall shine on your ways.
22:29 When they cast down, you shall say, 'be lifted up.' He will save the humble person.
22:30 He will even deliver him who is not innocent; Yes, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."
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