Job 22:1-16 ▼

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

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

3 “Is it any pleasure or joy to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it of benefit to Him that you make your ways perfect?

4 “Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you, That He enters into judgment against you?

5 “Is not your wickedness great, And your sins without end?

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

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

8 “But the land is possessed by the man with power, And the favored and honorable man dwells in it.

9 “You have sent widows away empty-handed, And the arms (strength) of the fatherless have been broken.

10 “Therefore snares surround you, And sudden dread terrifies and overwhelms you;

11 Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And a flood of water covers you.

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

13 “You say, ‘What does God know [about me]? Can He judge through the thick darkness?

14 ‘Thick clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see, And He walks on the vault (circle) of the heavens.’

15 “Will you keep to the ancient path That wicked men walked [in the time of Noah],

16 Men who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were poured out like a river?