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1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
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2 Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
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3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
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4 Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?
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5 Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?
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6 For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
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7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
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8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.
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9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
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10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;
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11 Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.
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12 Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
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13 And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?
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14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.
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15 Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
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16 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:
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17 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
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18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
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19 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
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20 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.
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21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
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22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
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23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.
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24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
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25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.
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26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
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27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.
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28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
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29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
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30 He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.
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- 1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,
- 2 “Can a vigorous man be of use to God, Or a wise man be useful to himself?
- 3 “Is there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, Or profit if you make your ways perfect?
- 4 “Is it because of your reverence that He reproves you, That He enters into judgment against you?
- 5 “Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquities without end?
- 6 “For you have taken pledges of your brothers without cause, And stripped men naked.
- 7 “To the weary you have given no water to drink, And from the hungry you have withheld bread.
- 8 “But the earth belongs to the mighty man, And the honorable man dwells in it.
- 9 “You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the orphans has been crushed.
- 10 “Therefore snares surround you, And sudden dread terrifies you,
- 11 Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And an abundance of water covers you.
- 12 “Is not God in the height of heaven? Look also at the distant stars, how high they are!
- 13 “You say, 'What does God know? Can He judge through the thick darkness?
- 14 'Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see; And He walks on the vault of heaven.'
- 15 “Will you keep to the ancient path Which wicked men have trod,
- 16 Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were washed away by a river?
- 17 “They said to God, 'Depart from us!' And 'What can the Almighty do to them?'
- 18 “Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
- 19 “The righteous see and are glad, And the innocent mock them,
- 20 Saying, 'Truly our adversaries are cut off, And their abundance the fire has consumed.'
- 21 “Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you.
- 22 “Please receive instruction from His mouth And establish His words in your heart.
- 23 “If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent,
- 24 And place your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,
- 25 Then the Almighty will be your gold And choice silver to you.
- 26 “For then you will delight in the Almighty And lift up your face to God.
- 27 “You will pray to Him, and He will hear you; And you will pay your vows.
- 28 “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.
- 29 “When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, And the humble person He will save.
- 30 “He will deliver one who is not innocent, And he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”
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