New American Standard Bible 1995

International Standard Version

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

1Then in response, Eliphaz from Teman said:

2"Can a vigorous man be of use to God, Or a wise man be useful to himself?

2"Can a human being be useful to God, since he, who is wise, is sufficient to himself?

3"Is there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, Or profit if you make your ways perfect?

3Will it please the Almighty if you are innocent, or does he profit if your life is blameless?

4"Is it because of your reverence that He reproves you, That He enters into judgment against you?

4Will he acquit you just because you fear him, and render a verdict on your behalf?

5"Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquities without end?

5Your wickedness is great, isn't it? There's no limit to your iniquity, is there?

6"For you have taken pledges of your brothers without cause, And stripped men naked.

6"After all, you've taken collateral from your relatives for no reason; you stripped the naked of their clothing.

7"To the weary you have given no water to drink, And from the hungry you have withheld bread.

7You've neglected to give water to the weary, and you've withheld food from the hungry.

8"But the earth belongs to the mighty man, And the honorable man dwells in it.

8The land belongs to the powerful, and the privileged thrive in it.

9"You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the orphans has been crushed.

9You sent away widows empty-handed, and broke the outstretched arms of orphans.

10"Therefore snares surround you, And sudden dread terrifies you,

10That's why disaster surrounds you, terror suddenly overwhelms you,

11Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And an abundance of water covers you.

11you see nothing but darkness, and a flood of troubles drowns you."

12"Is not God in the height of heaven? Look also at the distant stars, how high they are!

12"Isn't God in heaven above? Consider how far away the stars are, and how lofty they are!

13"You say, 'What does God know? Can He judge through the thick darkness?

13You've asked, 'What does God know? Can he sort through pitch black darkness?'

14'Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see; And He walks on the vault of heaven.'

14Thick clouds cover him so he can't see as he walks back and forth at heaven's horizon.

15"Will you keep to the ancient path Which wicked men have trod,

15"Will you keep walking on the traditional path that sinners have tread,

16Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were washed away by a river?

16who were snatched away before their time; when their foundation was swept away by a river?

17"They said to God, 'Depart from us!' And 'What can the Almighty do to them?'

17They told God, 'Get away from us!' and 'What will the Almighty do to them?'

18"Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

18"Though God fills their houses with good things, the counsel of the wicked will remain far from me.

19"The righteous see and are glad, And the innocent mock them,

19The righteous will see this and rejoice; the innocent will insult him, saying,

20Saying, 'Truly our adversaries are cut off, And their abundance the fire has consumed.'

20Our enemies are sure to be destroyed, and fire will burn up what's left of their riches."

21"Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you.

21"Get to know God, and you'll be at peace with him, and then prosperity will come to you.

22"Please receive instruction from His mouth And establish His words in your heart.

22Accept what he has to teach you, and treasure his words in your heart.

23"If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent,

23"If you return to the Almighty you'll be restored, as you remove iniquity from your household.

24And place your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,

24Bury your gold nuggets in the dust, and your source of gold among the stones in a streambed,

25Then the Almighty will be your gold And choice silver to you.

25and then the Almighty will be your gold and your refined silver.

26"For then you will delight in the Almighty And lift up your face to God.

26"Then you'll take delight in the Almighty; and will turn your face toward God.

27"You will pray to Him, and He will hear you; And you will pay your vows.

27You'll entreat him and he'll listen to you as you fulfill your vows.

28"You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.

28When you make a decision on something, it will be established for you, and light will brighten your way.

29"When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, And the humble person He will save.

29"For when they're humbled, you may respond; 'It's their pride!' but he delivers the humble.

30"He will deliver one who is not innocent, And he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."

30He'll even deliver the guilty, who will be delivered through your innocence."

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

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.