22:1  Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

22:2  "Can a vigorous man be of use to God, Or a wise man be useful to himself?

22:3  "Is there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, Or profit if you make your ways perfect?

22:4  "Is it because of your reverence that He reproves you, That He enters into judgment against you?

22:5  "Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquities without end?

22:6  "For you have taken pledges of your brothers without cause, And stripped men naked.

22:7  "To the weary you have given no water to drink, And from the hungry you have withheld bread.

22:8  "But the earth belongs to the mighty man, And the honorable man dwells in it.

22:9  "You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the orphans has been crushed.

22:10  "Therefore snares surround you, And sudden dread terrifies you,

22:11  Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And an abundance of water covers you.

22:12  "Is not God {in} the height of heaven? Look also at the distant stars, how high they are!

22:13  "You say, `What does God know? Can He judge through the thick darkness?

22:14  `Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see; And He walks on the vault of heaven.'

22:15  "Will you keep to the ancient path Which wicked men have trod,

22:16  Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were washed away by a river?

22:17  "They said to God, `Depart from us!' And `What can the Almighty do to them?'

22:18  "Yet He filled their houses with good {things;} But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

22:19  "The righteous see and are glad, And the innocent mock them,

22:20  {Saying,} `Truly our adversaries are cut off, And their abundance the fire has consumed.'

22:21  "Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you.

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

22:23  "If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent,

22:24  And place {your} gold in the dust, And {the gold of} Ophir among the stones of the brooks,

22:25  Then the Almighty will be your gold And choice silver to you.

22:26  "For then you will delight in the Almighty And lift up your face to God.

22:27  "You will pray to Him, and He will hear you; And you will pay your vows.

22:28  "You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.

22:29  "When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, And the humble person He will save.

22:30  "He will deliver one who is not innocent, And he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."