Job 22

¹ Eliphaz sheweth that man's goodness profiteth not God. ⁵ He accuseth Job of divers sins. ²¹ He exhorteth him to repentance, with promises of mercy.

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, 2 Can a man be profitable to God, as he that is wise may be profitable to himself? ^{▼▼as he...: or, if he may be profitable, doth his good success depend thereon?} 3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? 4 Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?

5 Is not thy wickedness great? and thy iniquities without end? 6 For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother without cause, and stripped the naked of their clothing. ^{▼▼the naked...: Heb. the clothes of the naked} 7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withheld bread from the hungry. 8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it. ^{▼▼mighty...: Heb. man of arm
,} ^{▼▼honourable...: Heb. eminent, or, accepted for countenance} 9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. 10 Therefore snares are around thee, and sudden fear troubleth 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 height of the stars, how high they are! ^{▼▼height of the stars: Heb. head of the stars} 13 And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? ^{▼▼How: or, What} 14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

15 Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? 16 Who were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood: ^{▼▼whose...: Heb. a flood was poured upon their foundation} 17 Who said to God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? ^{▼▼for: or, to} 18 Yet he filled their houses with good things : but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. 19 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent mock them. 20 Though our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth. ^{▼▼substance: or, estate
,} ^{▼▼the remnant...: or, their excellency}

21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: by this good shall come to thee. ^{▼▼him: that is, God} 22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart. 23 If thou shalt return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tents. 24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. ^{▼▼as dust: or, on the dust} 25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. ^{▼▼defence: or, gold
,} ^{▼▼plenty...: Heb. silver of strength} 26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face to God. 27 Thou shalt make thy prayer to him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. 28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established to thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. 29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, Lift them up; and he shall save the humble person. ^{▼▼the humble...: Heb. him that hath low eyes} 30 He shall deliver the isle of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thy hands. ^{▼▼He shall...: or, The innocent shall deliver the island}