New King James Version

English Standard Version

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

2“Can a man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?

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

3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways 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?

4“Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you, And enters into judgment with you?

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

5Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquity without end?

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

6For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason, And stripped the naked of their clothing.

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

7You have not given the weary water to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry.

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

8But the mighty man possessed the land, And the honorable man dwelt in it.

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

9You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the fatherless was crushed.

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

10Therefore snares are all around you, And sudden fear troubles you,

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

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

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

12“Is not God in the height of heaven? And see the highest stars, how lofty they are!

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

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

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

14Thick clouds cover Him, so that He cannot see, And He walks above the circle of heaven.’

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

15Will you keep to the old way Which wicked men have trod,

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

16Who were cut down before their time, Whose foundations were swept away by a flood?

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

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

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

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

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

19“The righteous see it and are glad, And the innocent laugh at them:

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

20‘Surely our adversaries are cut down, And the fire consumes their remnant.’

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

21“Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you.

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

22Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart.

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

23If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; You will remove iniquity far from your tents.

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

24Then you will lay your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.

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

25Yes, the Almighty will be your gold And your precious silver;

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

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

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

27You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, And you will pay your vows.

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

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

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

29When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’ Then He will save the humble person.

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

30He will even deliver one who is not innocent; Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.”

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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.