Job 22

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

2Can a man be of use to God? Surely he who is wise is of use to himself.

3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous, or any gain that you make your ways blameless?

4Is it because of your fear of him that he reproves you and enters into judgment with you?

5Is not your evil great and your iniquities without end?

6For you took pledges from your brothers for no reason, and stripped the clothing from the naked.

7You gave no water to the weary to drink, and withheld bread from the hungry.

8But the land belonged to the strong man, and the favored man lived in it.

9You sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of orphans were crushed.

10Therefore snares are all around you, and sudden terror overwhelms you.

11or darkness, so that you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

12Is not God in the heights of heaven? Look at the highest stars—how lofty they are!

13Yet you say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through thick darkness?’

14Clouds are a covering for him, so that he does not see; and he walks on the vault of heaven.

15Will you keep to the ancient path that wicked men walked?

16who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out like a river.

17who 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.

19The righteous see and rejoice, and the innocent mock them.

20Surely our adversary has been cut off, and fire has consumed their remnant.

21Come to terms with him, please, and be at peace; by this good will come to you.

22Please receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.

23If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; if you put wrongdoing far from your tent,

24and lay gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the rocks of the streambeds,

25then the Almighty will be your gold, and choice silver for you.

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

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

28You will decree a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.

29When people are brought low, you will say, “There is lifting up!” and he will save the one with downcast eyes.

30He will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will escape through the cleanness of your hands.