| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: | 1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered: |
| 2“Can a man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself? | 2"Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit? Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable? |
| 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 of any special benefit to the Almighty that you should be righteous, or is it any gain to him that 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 because of your piety that he rebukes you and goes to judgment with you? |
| 5Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquity without end? | 5Is not your wickedness great and is there no end to your iniquity? |
| 6For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason, And stripped the naked of their clothing. | 6"For you took pledges from your brothers for no reason, and you stripped the clothing from the naked. |
| 7You have not given the weary water to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry. | 7You gave the weary no water to drink and from the hungry you withheld food. |
| 8But the mighty man possessed the land, And the honorable man dwelt in it. | 8Although you were a powerful man, owning land, an honored man living on it, |
| 9You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the fatherless was crushed. | 9you sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of the orphans you crushed. |
| 10Therefore snares are all around you, And sudden fear troubles you, | 10That is why snares surround you, and why sudden fear terrifies you, |
| 11Or darkness so that you cannot see; And an abundance of water covers you. | 11why it is so dark you cannot see, and why 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 on high in heaven? And see the lofty stars, how high they are! |
| 13And you say, ‘What does God know? Can He judge through the deep darkness? | 13But you have said, 'What does God know? Does he judge through such deep darkness? |
| 14Thick clouds cover Him, so that He cannot see, And He walks above the circle of heaven.’ | 14Thick clouds are a veil for him, so he does not see us, as he goes back and forth in the vault of heaven.' |
| 15Will you keep to the old way Which wicked men have trod, | 15Will you keep to the old path that evil men have walked-- |
| 16Who were cut down before their time, Whose foundations were swept away by a flood? | 16men who were carried off before their time, when the flood was poured out on their foundations? |
| 17They said to God, ‘Depart from us! What can the Almighty do to them?’ | 17They were saying to God, 'Turn away 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. | 18But it was he who filled their houses with good things--yet the counsel of the wicked was far from me. |
| 19“The righteous see it and are glad, And the innocent laugh at them: | 19The righteous see their destruction and rejoice; the innocent mock them scornfully, saying, |
| 20‘Surely our adversaries are cut down, And the fire consumes their remnant.’ | 20Surely our enemies are destroyed, and fire consumes their wealth.' |
| 21“Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you. | 21"Reconcile yourself with God, and be at peace with him; in this way your prosperity will be good. |
| 22Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart. | 22Accept instruction from his mouth and store 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 wicked behavior far from your tent, |
| 24Then you will lay your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks. | 24and throw your gold in the dust--your gold of Ophir among the rocks in the ravines-- |
| 25Yes, the Almighty will be your gold And your precious silver; | 25then the Almighty himself will be your gold, and the choicest silver for you. |
| 26For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, And lift up your face to God. | 26Surely then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and will lift up your face toward God. |
| 27You will make your prayer to Him, 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. |
| 28You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways. | 28Whatever you decide on a matter, 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. | 29When people are brought low and you say 'Lift them up!' then he will save the downcast; |
| 30He will even deliver one who is not innocent; Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.” | 30he will deliver even someone who is not innocent, who will escape through the cleanness of your hands." |
|
