| International Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Then in response, Eliphaz from Teman said: | 1Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded, |
| 2"Can a human being be useful to God, since he, who is wise, is sufficient to himself? | 2"Can a vigorous man be of use to God, Or a wise man be useful to himself? |
| 3Will it please the Almighty if you are innocent, or does he profit if your life is blameless? | 3"Is there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, Or profit if you make your ways perfect? |
| 4Will he acquit you just because you fear him, and render a verdict on your behalf? | 4"Is it because of your reverence that He reproves you, That He enters into judgment against you? |
| 5Your wickedness is great, isn't it? There's no limit to your iniquity, is there? | 5"Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquities without end? |
| 6"After all, you've taken collateral from your relatives for no reason; you stripped the naked of their clothing. | 6"For you have taken pledges of your brothers without cause, And stripped men naked. |
| 7You've neglected to give water to the weary, and you've withheld food from the hungry. | 7"To the weary you have given no water to drink, And from the hungry you have withheld bread. |
| 8The land belongs to the powerful, and the privileged thrive in it. | 8"But the earth belongs to the mighty man, And the honorable man dwells in it. |
| 9You sent away widows empty-handed, and broke the outstretched arms of orphans. | 9"You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the orphans has been crushed. |
| 10That's why disaster surrounds you, terror suddenly overwhelms you, | 10"Therefore snares surround you, And sudden dread terrifies you, |
| 11you see nothing but darkness, and a flood of troubles drowns you." | 11Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And an abundance of water covers you. |
| 12"Isn't God in heaven above? Consider how far away the stars are, and how lofty they are! | 12"Is not God in the height of heaven? Look also at the distant stars, how high they are! |
| 13You've asked, 'What does God know? Can he sort through pitch black darkness?' | 13"You say, 'What does God know? Can He judge through the thick darkness? |
| 14Thick clouds cover him so he can't see as he walks back and forth at heaven's horizon. | 14'Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see; And He walks on the vault of heaven.' |
| 15"Will you keep walking on the traditional path that sinners have tread, | 15"Will you keep to the ancient path Which wicked men have trod, |
| 16who were snatched away before their time; when their foundation was swept away by a river? | 16Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were washed away by a river? |
| 17They told God, 'Get away from us!' and 'What will the Almighty do to them?' | 17"They said to God, 'Depart from us!' And 'What can the Almighty do to them?' |
| 18"Though God fills their houses with good things, the counsel of the wicked will remain far from me. | 18"Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked is far from me. |
| 19The righteous will see this and rejoice; the innocent will insult him, saying, | 19"The righteous see and are glad, And the innocent mock them, |
| 20Our enemies are sure to be destroyed, and fire will burn up what's left of their riches." | 20Saying, 'Truly our adversaries are cut off, And their abundance the fire has consumed.' |
| 21"Get to know God, and you'll be at peace with him, and then prosperity will come to you. | 21"Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you. |
| 22Accept what he has to teach you, and treasure his words in your heart. | 22"Please receive instruction from His mouth And establish His words in your heart. |
| 23"If you return to the Almighty you'll be restored, as you remove iniquity from your household. | 23"If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent, |
| 24Bury your gold nuggets in the dust, and your source of gold among the stones in a streambed, | 24And place your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks, |
| 25and then the Almighty will be your gold and your refined silver. | 25Then the Almighty will be your gold And choice silver to you. |
| 26"Then you'll take delight in the Almighty; and will turn your face toward God. | 26"For then you will delight in the Almighty And lift up your face to God. |
| 27You'll entreat him and he'll listen to you as you fulfill your vows. | 27"You will pray to Him, and He will hear you; And you will pay your vows. |
| 28When you make a decision on something, it will be established for you, and light will brighten your way. | 28"You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways. |
| 29"For when they're humbled, you may respond; 'It's their pride!' but he delivers the humble. | 29"When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, And the humble person He will save. |
| 30He'll even deliver the guilty, who will be delivered through your innocence." | 30"He will deliver one who is not innocent, And he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands." |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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