English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

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

2"Can a vigorous man be of use to God, Or a wise man be useful to himself?

3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?

3"Is there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, Or profit if you make your ways perfect?

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

4"Is it because of your reverence that He reproves you, That He enters into judgment against you?

5Is not your evil abundant? There is no end to your iniquities.

5"Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquities without end?

6For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing.

6"For you have taken pledges of your brothers without cause, And stripped men naked.

7You have given no water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

7"To the weary you have given no water to drink, And from the hungry you have withheld bread.

8The man with power possessed the land, and the favored man lived in it.

8"But the earth belongs to the mighty man, And the honorable man dwells in it.

9You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless were crushed.

9"You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the orphans has been crushed.

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

10"Therefore snares surround you, And sudden dread terrifies you,

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

11Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And an abundance of water covers you.

12“Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are!

12"Is not God in the height of heaven? Look also at the distant stars, how high they are!

13But you say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the deep darkness?

13"You say, 'What does God know? Can He judge through the thick darkness?

14Thick clouds veil him, so that he does not see, and he walks on the vault of heaven.’

14'Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see; And He walks on the vault of heaven.'

15Will you keep to the old way that wicked men have trod?

15"Will you keep to the ancient path Which wicked men have trod,

16They were snatched away before their time; their foundation was washed away.

16Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were washed away by a river?

17They said to God, ‘Depart from us,’ and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’

17"They 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.

18"Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent one mocks at them,

19"The righteous see and are glad, And the innocent mock them,

20saying, ‘Surely our adversaries are cut off, and what they left the fire has consumed.’

20Saying, 'Truly our adversaries are cut off, And their abundance the fire has consumed.'

21“Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.

21"Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you.

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

22"Please receive instruction from His mouth And establish His words in your heart.

23If you return to the Almighty you will be built up; if you remove injustice far from your tents,

23"If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent,

24if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent-bed,

24And place your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,

25then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.

25Then the Almighty will be your gold And choice silver to you.

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

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

27You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows.

27"You 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.

28"You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.

29For when they are humbled you say, ‘It is because of pride’; but he saves the lowly.

29"When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, And the humble person He will save.

30He delivers even the one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”

30"He will deliver one who is not innocent, And he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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