Eliphaz Answers the Third Time

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

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

4Will he reprove you for fear of you? will he enter with you into judgment?

5Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities without end?

6For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

8But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honorable man dwelt in it.

9You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubles you;

11Or darkness, that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you.

12Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

13And you say, How does God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

14Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he sees not; and he walks in the circle of heaven.

15Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

16Who were cut down before their time, whose foundation was swept away with a flood:

17Who said unto God, Depart from us: and 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.

19The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.

20Surely our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumes.

21Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto you.

22Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.

23If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tents.

24Then shall you lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

25Yea, the Almighty shall be your defense, and you shall have plenty of silver.

26For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face unto God.

27You shall make your prayer unto him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows.

28You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established for you: and the light shall shine upon your ways.

29When men are cast down, then you shall say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

30He shall deliver the innocent man: and he is delivered by the pureness of your hands.