Eliphaz: Can a Man Be of Use to God?

1Then Eliphaz the Themanite responded by saying:

2Can man be compared with God, even if he were perfect in knowledge?

3What advantage is it to God, if you were just? Or what do you provide for him, if your way should be immaculate?

4Will he reprove you and take you to judgment for being afraid,

5and not because of your many evil deeds and your infinite unfairness?

6For you have taken away the collateral of your brothers without cause, and stripped them naked of their clothing.

7You have not given water to the weary; you have taken bread away from the hungry.

8By the strength of your arm, you took possession of the land, and you retain it by being the strongest.

9You have sent widows away empty, and you have crushed the shoulders of orphans.

10Because of this, you are surrounded by traps, and unexpected fears will disturb you.

11And did you think that you would not see darkness and that you were not to be overwhelmed by the on-rush of overflowing waters?

12Have you not considered that God is higher than the heavens and is lifted above the height of the stars?

13And you say: “Well, what does God know?” and, “He judges, as if through a fog,”

14and, “The clouds are his hiding-place,” and, “He does not examine us closely,” and, “He makes his rounds at the limits of the heavens.”

15Do you not want to tend the path of the ages, which wicked men have spurned?

16These were taken away before their time, and a flood overthrew their foundation.

17They said to God, “Withdraw from us,” and they treated the Almighty as if he could do nothing,

18though he had filled their houses with good things. May their way of thinking be far from me.

19The just will see and will rejoice, and the innocent will mock them.

20Has not their haughtiness been cut down, and has not fire devoured the remnants of them?

21So, repose yourself with him and be at peace, and, in this way, you will have the best fruits.

22Accept the law from his mouth, and place his words in your heart.

23If you will return to the Almighty, you will be rebuilt, and you will put sinfulness far from your tabernacle.

24He will give you stone in place of dirt, and torrents of gold in place of stone.

25And the Almighty will be against your enemies, and silver will be gathered together for you.

26Then will you flock together in delight over the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to God.

27You will plead with him, and he will listen to you, and you will pay your vows.

28You will decide on something, and it will come to you, and the light will shine in your ways.

29For he who had been humbled, will be in glory; and he who will lower his eyes, will be the one saved.

30The innocent will be saved, and he will be saved with purity in his hands.