New American Standard Bible 1995

New Living Translation

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

2"Can a vigorous man be of use to God, Or a wise man be useful to himself?

2“Can a person do anything to help God? Can even a wise person be helpful to him?

3"Is there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, Or profit if you make your ways perfect?

3Is it any advantage to the Almighty if you are righteous? Would it be any gain to him if you were perfect?

4"Is it because of your reverence that He reproves you, That He enters into judgment against you?

4Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you and brings judgment against you?

5"Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquities without end?

5No, it’s because of your wickedness! There’s no limit to your sins.

6"For you have taken pledges of your brothers without cause, And stripped men naked.

6“For example, you must have lent money to your friend and demanded clothing as security. Yes, you stripped him to the bone.

7"To the weary you have given no water to drink, And from the hungry you have withheld bread.

7You must have refused water for the thirsty and food for the hungry.

8"But the earth belongs to the mighty man, And the honorable man dwells in it.

8You probably think the land belongs to the powerful and only the privileged have a right to it!

9"You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the orphans has been crushed.

9You must have sent widows away empty-handed and crushed the hopes of orphans.

10"Therefore snares surround you, And sudden dread terrifies you,

10That is why you are surrounded by traps and tremble from sudden fears.

11Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And an abundance of water covers you.

11That is why you cannot see in the darkness, and waves of water cover you.

12"Is not God in the height of heaven? Look also at the distant stars, how high they are!

12“God is so great—higher than the heavens, higher than the farthest stars.

13"You say, 'What does God know? Can He judge through the thick darkness?

13But you reply, ‘That’s why God can’t see what I am doing! How 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.'

14For thick clouds swirl about him, and he cannot see us. He is way up there, walking on the vault of heaven.’

15"Will you keep to the ancient path Which wicked men have trod,

15“Will you continue on the old paths where evil people have walked?

16Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were washed away by a river?

16They were snatched away in the prime of life, the foundations of their lives washed away.

17"They said to God, 'Depart from us!' And 'What can the Almighty do to them?'

17For they said to God, ‘Leave us alone! What can the Almighty do to us?’

18"Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

18Yet he was the one who filled their homes with good things, so I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.

19"The righteous see and are glad, And the innocent mock them,

19“The righteous will be happy to see the wicked destroyed, and the innocent will laugh in contempt.

20Saying, 'Truly our adversaries are cut off, And their abundance the fire has consumed.'

20They will say, ‘See how our enemies have been destroyed. The last of them have been consumed in the fire.’

21"Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you.

21“Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you.

22"Please receive instruction from His mouth And establish His words in your heart.

22Listen to his instructions, and store them in your heart.

23"If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent,

23If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored— so clean up your life.

24And place your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,

24If you give up your lust for money and throw your precious gold into the river,

25Then the Almighty will be your gold And choice silver to you.

25the Almighty himself will be your treasure. He will be your precious silver!

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

26“Then you will take delight in the Almighty and look up to God.

27"You will pray to Him, and He will hear you; And you will pay your vows.

27You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows to him.

28"You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.

28You will succeed in whatever you choose to do, and light will shine on the road ahead of you.

29"When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, And the humble person He will save.

29If people are in trouble and you say, ‘Help them,’ God will save them.

30"He will deliver one who is not innocent, And he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."

30Even sinners will be rescued; they will be rescued because your hands are pure.”

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.