1. |
And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: -- |
2. |
To God is a man profitable, Because a wise man to himself is profitable? |
3. |
Is it a delight to the Mighty One That thou art righteous? is it gain, That thou makest perfect thy ways? |
4. |
Because of thy reverence Doth He reason `with' thee? He entereth with thee into judgment: |
5. |
Is not thy wickedness abundant? And there is no end to thine iniquities. |
6. |
For thou takest a pledge of thy brother for nought, And the garments of the naked Thou dost strip off. |
7. |
Thou causest not the weary to drink water, And from the hungry thou withholdest bread. |
8. |
As to the man of arm -- he hath the earth, And the accepted of face -- he dwelleth in it. |
9. |
Widows thou hast sent away empty, And the arms of the fatherless are bruised. |
10. |
Therefore round about thee `are' snares, And trouble thee doth fear suddenly. |
11. |
Or darkness -- thou dost not see, And abundance of waters doth cover thee. |
12. |
Is not God high `in' heaven? And see the summit of the stars, That they are high. |
13. |
And thou hast said, `What -- hath God known? Through thickness doth He judge? |
14. |
Thick clouds `are' a secret place to Him, And He doth not see;' And the circle of the heavens He walketh habitually, |
15. |
The path of the age dost thou observe, That men of iniquity have trodden? |
16. |
Who have been cut down unexpectedly, A flood is poured out on their foundation. |
17. |
Those saying to God, `Turn aside from us,' And what doth the Mighty One to them? |
18. |
And he hath filled their houses `with' good: (And the counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.) |
19. |
See do the righteous and they rejoice, And the innocent mocketh at them, |
20. |
`Surely our substance hath not been cut off, And their excellency hath fire consumed.' |
21. |
Acquaint thyself, I pray thee, with Him, And be at peace, Thereby thine increase `is' good. |
22. |
Receive, I pray thee, from His mouth a law, And set His sayings in thy heart. |
23. |
If thou dost return unto the Mighty Thou art built up, Thou puttest iniquity far from thy tents. |
24. |
So as to set on the dust a defence, And on a rock of the valleys a covering. |
25. |
And the Mighty hath been thy defence, And silver `is' strength to thee. |
26. |
For then on the Mighty thou delightest thyself, And dost lift up unto God thy face, |
27. |
Thou dost make supplication unto Him, And He doth hear thee, And thy vows thou completest. |
28. |
And thou decreest a saying, And it is established to thee, And on thy ways hath light shone. |
29. |
For they have made low, And thou sayest, `Lift up.' And the bowed down of eyes he saveth. |
30. |
He delivereth the not innocent, Yea, he hath been delivered By the cleanness of thy hands. |