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 laugh them to scorn,

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 the law 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.