^22:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, ^22:2 Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself. ^22:3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to him that you make your ways perfect? ^22:4Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you, that he enters with you into judgment?

    ^22:5 Is not your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities. ^22:6 For you have taken pledges from your brother freely and stripped the naked of their clothing. ^22:7 You have not given water to the weary to drink and you have withheld bread from the hungry. ^22:8 But as for the mighty man, he had the land. And the honorable man, he dwelt in it. ^22:9 You have sent widows away empty and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

    ^22:10 Therefore snares are all around you and sudden fear troubles you, ^22:11 or darkness, so that you cannot see and abundance of waters cover you.

    ^22:12 Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are! ^22:13And you say, What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness? ^22:14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he does not see and he walks on the vault of heaven.

    ^22:15 Will you keep the old way which wicked men have trodden? ^22:16 Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream, ^22:17 who said to God, Depart from us, and What can the Almighty do for us? ^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 it and are glad. And the innocent laugh them to scorn, ^22:20 saying, Surely those who rose up against us are cut off and the remnant of them, the fire has consumed.

    ^22:21 Acquaint now yourself with him and be at peace. By this good will come to you. ^22:22 I beseech you, receive the law from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. ^22:23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up, you put away unrighteousness far from your tents. ^22:24 Then you will lay up gold as dust and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. ^22:25 Yes, the Almighty will be your treasure and precious silver to you. ^22:26 For then will you delight yourself in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God.

    ^22:27 You will make your prayer 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 to you. And light will shine upon your ways.

    ^22:29 When they cast you down, you will say, There is lifting up and he will save the humble man.^22:30 He will deliver even him who is not innocent. Yes, he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.