Job 22:1-16 ▼

1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:

2 Can a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him?

3 Is it any advantage to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways blameless?

4 Is it for thy fear of Him that He reproveth thee, That He entereth with thee into judgment?

5 Is not thy wickedness great? And are not thine iniquities without end?

6 For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, And stripped the naked of their clothing.

7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, And thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

8 And as a mighty man, who hath the earth, And as a man of rank, who dwelleth in it,

9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10 Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden dread affrighted thee,

11 Or darkness, that thou canst not see, And abundance of waters cover thee.

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

13 And thou sayest: 'What doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud?

14 Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; And He walketh in the circuit of heaven.'

15 Wilt thou keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden?

16 Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream;