1And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: —

2To God is a man profitable, Because a wise man to himself is profitable?

3Is it a delight to the Mighty One That thou art righteous? is it gain, That thou makest perfect thy ways?

4Because of thy reverence Doth He reason [with] thee? He entereth with thee into judgment:

5Is not thy wickedness abundant? And there is no end to thine iniquities.

6For thou takest a pledge of thy brother for nought, And the garments of the naked Thou dost strip off.

7Thou causest not the weary to drink water, And from the hungry thou withholdest bread.

8As to the man of arm — he hath the earth, And the accepted of face — he dwelleth in it.

9Widows thou hast sent away empty, And the arms of the fatherless are bruised.

10Therefore round about thee [are] snares, And trouble thee doth fear suddenly.

11Or darkness — thou dost not see, And abundance of waters doth cover thee.

12Is not God high [in] heaven? And see the summit of the stars, That they are high.

13And thou hast said, 'What — hath God known? Through thickness doth He judge?

14Thick clouds [are] a secret place to Him, And He doth not see;' And the circle of the heavens He walketh habitually,

15The path of the age dost thou observe, That men of iniquity have trodden?

16Who have been cut down unexpectedly, A flood is poured out on their foundation.

17Those saying to God, 'Turn aside from us,' And what doth the Mighty One to them?

18And he hath filled their houses [with] good: (And the counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)

19See do the righteous and they rejoice, And the innocent mocketh at them,

20'Surely our substance hath not been cut off, And their excellency hath fire consumed.'

21Acquaint thyself, I pray thee, with Him, And be at peace, Thereby thine increase [is] good.

22Receive, I pray thee, from His mouth a law, And set His sayings in thy heart.

23If thou dost return unto the Mighty Thou art built up, Thou puttest iniquity far from thy tents.

24So as to set on the dust a defence, And on a rock of the valleys a covering.

25And the Mighty hath been thy defence, And silver [is] strength to thee.

26For then on the Mighty thou delightest thyself, And dost lift up unto God thy face,

27Thou dost make supplication unto Him, And He doth hear thee, And thy vows thou completest.

28And thou decreest a saying, And it is established to thee, And on thy ways hath light shone.

29For they have made low, And thou sayest, 'Lift up.' And the bowed down of eyes he saveth.

30He delivereth the not innocent, Yea, he hath been delivered By the cleanness of thy hands.