| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: | 1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: |
| 2“Can a man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself? | 2"Can a man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise person benefit him? |
| 3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless? | 3What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would he gain if your ways were blameless? |
| 4“Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you, And enters into judgment with you? | 4"Is it for your piety that he rebukes you and brings charges against you? |
| 5Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquity without end? | 5Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless? |
| 6For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason, And stripped the naked of their clothing. | 6You demanded security from your relatives for no reason; you stripped people of their clothing, leaving them naked. |
| 7You have not given the weary water to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry. | 7You gave no water to the weary and you withheld food from the hungry, |
| 8But the mighty man possessed the land, And the honorable man dwelt in it. | 8though you were a powerful man, owning land-- an honored man, living on it. |
| 9You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the fatherless was crushed. | 9And you sent widows away empty-handed and broke the strength of the fatherless. |
| 10Therefore snares are all around you, And sudden fear troubles you, | 10That is why snares are all around you, why sudden peril terrifies you, |
| 11Or darkness so that you cannot see; And an abundance of water covers you. | 11why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you. |
| 12“Is not God in the height of heaven? And see the highest stars, how lofty they are! | 12"Is not God in the heights of heaven? And see how lofty are the highest stars! |
| 13And you say, ‘What does God know? Can He judge through the deep darkness? | 13Yet you say, 'What does God know? Does he judge through such darkness? |
| 14Thick clouds cover Him, so that He cannot see, And He walks above the circle of heaven.’ | 14Thick clouds veil him, so he does not see us as he goes about in the vaulted heavens.' |
| 15Will you keep to the old way Which wicked men have trod, | 15Will you keep to the old path that the wicked have trod? |
| 16Who were cut down before their time, Whose foundations were swept away by a flood? | 16They were carried off before their time, their foundations washed away by a flood. |
| 17They said to God, ‘Depart from us! What can the Almighty do to them?’ | 17They said to God, 'Leave us alone! What can the Almighty do to us?' |
| 18Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked is far from me. | 18Yet it was he who filled their houses with good things, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked. |
| 19“The righteous see it and are glad, And the innocent laugh at them: | 19The righteous see their ruin and rejoice; the innocent mock them, saying, |
| 20‘Surely our adversaries are cut down, And the fire consumes their remnant.’ | 20Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire devours their wealth.' |
| 21“Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you. | 21"Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. |
| 22Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart. | 22Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. |
| 23If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; You will remove iniquity far from your tents. | 23If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from your tent |
| 24Then you will lay your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks. | 24and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, |
| 25Yes, the Almighty will be your gold And your precious silver; | 25then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you. |
| 26For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, And lift up your face to God. | 26Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God. |
| 27You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, And you will pay your vows. | 27You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows. |
| 28You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways. | 28What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways. |
| 29When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’ Then He will save the humble person. | 29When people are brought low and you say, 'Lift them up!' then he will save the downcast. |
| 30He will even deliver one who is not innocent; Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.” | 30He will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands." |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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