International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1Then in response, Eliphaz from Teman said:

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

2"Can a human being be useful to God, since he, who is wise, is sufficient to himself?

2“Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.

3Will it please the Almighty if you are innocent, or does he profit if your life is blameless?

3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?

4Will he acquit you just because you fear him, and render a verdict on your behalf?

4Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you and enters into judgment with you?

5Your wickedness is great, isn't it? There's no limit to your iniquity, is there?

5Is not your evil abundant? There is no end to your iniquities.

6"After all, you've taken collateral from your relatives for no reason; you stripped the naked of their clothing.

6For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7You've neglected to give water to the weary, and you've withheld food from the hungry.

7You have given no water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

8The land belongs to the powerful, and the privileged thrive in it.

8The man with power possessed the land, and the favored man lived in it.

9You sent away widows empty-handed, and broke the outstretched arms of orphans.

9You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless were crushed.

10That's why disaster surrounds you, terror suddenly overwhelms you,

10Therefore snares are all around you, and sudden terror overwhelms you,

11you see nothing but darkness, and a flood of troubles drowns you."

11or darkness, so that you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

12"Isn't God in heaven above? Consider how far away the stars are, and how lofty they are!

12“Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are!

13You've asked, 'What does God know? Can he sort through pitch black darkness?'

13But you say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the deep darkness?

14Thick clouds cover him so he can't see as he walks back and forth at heaven's horizon.

14Thick clouds veil him, so that he does not see, and he walks on the vault of heaven.’

15"Will you keep walking on the traditional path that sinners have tread,

15Will you keep to the old way that wicked men have trod?

16who were snatched away before their time; when their foundation was swept away by a river?

16They were snatched away before their time; their foundation was washed away.

17They told God, 'Get away from us!' and 'What will the Almighty do to them?'

17They said to God, ‘Depart from us,’ and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’

18"Though God fills their houses with good things, the counsel of the wicked will remain far from me.

18Yet he filled their houses with good things— but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19The righteous will see this and rejoice; the innocent will insult him, saying,

19The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent one mocks at them,

20Our enemies are sure to be destroyed, and fire will burn up what's left of their riches."

20saying, ‘Surely our adversaries are cut off, and what they left the fire has consumed.’

21"Get to know God, and you'll be at peace with him, and then prosperity will come to you.

21“Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.

22Accept what he has to teach you, and treasure his words in your heart.

22Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.

23"If you return to the Almighty you'll be restored, as you remove iniquity from your household.

23If you return to the Almighty you will be built up; if you remove injustice far from your tents,

24Bury your gold nuggets in the dust, and your source of gold among the stones in a streambed,

24if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent-bed,

25and then the Almighty will be your gold and your refined silver.

25then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.

26"Then you'll take delight in the Almighty; and will turn your face toward God.

26For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.

27You'll entreat him and he'll listen to you as you fulfill your vows.

27You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows.

28When you make a decision on something, it will be established for you, and light will brighten your way.

28You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.

29"For when they're humbled, you may respond; 'It's their pride!' but he delivers the humble.

29For when they are humbled you say, ‘It is because of pride’; but he saves the lowly.

30He'll even deliver the guilty, who will be delivered through your innocence."

30He delivers even the one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.