1ELIPHAZ THE TEMANITE ANSWERED: 2»Can a mortal man be of use to God? Can even the wisest be of service to him? 3»Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous? Is it profitable to him if you make your ways blameless? 4»Is it for your reverence that he reproves you, and enters into judgment with you? 5»Is not your wickedness great? There is no end to your iniquities. 6»You have indeed exacted pledges from your family for no reason, and stripped the naked of their clothing. 7»You have given no water to the weary to drink. You have withheld bread from the hungry. 8»The powerful possess the land, and the favored live in it. 9»You have sent widows away empty-handed. You crush the arms of the orphans. 10»Therefore snares are around you, and sudden terror overwhelms you! 11»There is darkness so you cannot see. A flood of water covers you. 12»Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how eminent they are! 13»So you say: What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness? 14»Thick clouds enwrap him, so that he does not see, and he walks on the dome of the heavens.« 15»Will you keep to the old way that the wicked have trod? 16»They were snatched away before their time. Their foundation is washed away by flood. 17»They said to God: Leave us alone. They asked: What can the Almighty do to us? 18»Yet he filled their houses with good things. Yet the plans of the wicked are repugnant. 19»The righteous see it and are glad and the innocent laugh them to scorn. 20»They say: Our adversaries are cut off and the fire consumed what they left. 21»Agree with God, and be at peace. In this way good will come to you. 22»Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart. 23»If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. You must remove unrighteousness from your tents, 24»If you treat gold like dust, and gold of Ophir like the stones of the torrent-bed, 25and if the Almighty is your gold and your precious silver, 26you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God. 27»You will pray to him and he will hear you! You will pay your vows. 28»You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you. The light of Gods favor will shine on your ways. 29»When others are humiliated, you say it is pride for he saves the humble. 30»He will deliver even those who are guilty. They will escape because of the cleanness of your hands.«