1Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite , and said , 2Can a man be profitable unto God? Surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself . 3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty , that thou art righteous ? Or is it gain to him , that thou makest thy ways perfect ? 4Is it for thy fear of him that he reproveth thee, That he entereth with thee into judgment ? 5Is not thy wickedness great ? Neither is there any end to thine iniquities . 6For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought , And stripped the naked of their clothing. 7Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink , And thou hast withholden bread from the hungry . 8But as for the mighty man , he had the earth; And the honorable man , he dwelt in it . 9Thou hast sent widows away empty , And the arms of the fatherless have been broken . 10Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden fear troubleth thee, 11Or darkness , so that thou canst not see , And abundance of waters cover thee .
Call to Repentance
12Is not God in the height of heaven ? And behold the height of the stars , how high they are ! 13And thou sayest, What doth God know ? Can he judge through the thick darkness ? 14Thick clouds are a covering to him , so that he seeth not ; And he walketh on the vault of heaven . 15Wilt thou keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden ? 16Who were snatched away before their time , Whose foundation was poured out as a stream , 17Who said unto God, Depart from us ; And , What can the Almighty do for us ? 18Yet he filled their houses with good things : But the counsel of the wicked is far from me . 19The righteous see it , and are glad ; And the innocent laugh them to scorn , 20Saying , Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off , And the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.
The Nature of God and Human Limitations
21Acquaint now thyself with him , and be at peace : Thereby good shall come unto thee . 22Receive , I pray thee , the law from his mouth , And lay up his words in thy heart . 23If thou return to the Almighty , thou shalt be built up , If thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents. 24And lay thou thy treasure in the dust , And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks ; 25And the Almighty will be thy treasure, And precious silver unto thee. 26For then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty , And shalt lift up thy face unto God. 27Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him , and he will hear thee ; And thou shalt pay thy vows . 28Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee ; And light shall shine upon thy ways . 29When they cast thee down , thou shalt say, There is lifting up ; And the humble person he will save . 30He will deliver even him that is not innocent : Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands .