New Living Translation | New Living Translation |
1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: | 1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: |
2“Can a person do anything to help God? Can even a wise person be helpful to him? | 2“Can a person do anything to help God? Can even a wise person be helpful to him? |
3Is it any advantage to the Almighty if you are righteous? Would it be any gain to him if you were perfect? | 3Is it any advantage to the Almighty if you are righteous? Would it be any gain to him if you were perfect? |
4Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you and brings judgment against you? | 4Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you and brings judgment against you? |
5No, it’s because of your wickedness! There’s no limit to your sins. | 5No, it’s because of your wickedness! There’s no limit to your sins. |
6“For example, you must have lent money to your friend and demanded clothing as security. Yes, you stripped him to the bone. | 6“For example, you must have lent money to your friend and demanded clothing as security. Yes, you stripped him to the bone. |
7You must have refused water for the thirsty and food for the hungry. | 7You must have refused water for the thirsty and food for the hungry. |
8You probably think the land belongs to the powerful and only the privileged have a right to it! | 8You probably think the land belongs to the powerful and only the privileged have a right to it! |
9You must have sent widows away empty-handed and crushed the hopes of orphans. | 9You must have sent widows away empty-handed and crushed the hopes of orphans. |
10That is why you are surrounded by traps and tremble from sudden fears. | 10That is why you are surrounded by traps and tremble from sudden fears. |
11That is why you cannot see in the darkness, and waves of water cover you. | 11That is why you cannot see in the darkness, and waves of water cover you. |
12“God is so great—higher than the heavens, higher than the farthest stars. | 12“God is so great—higher than the heavens, higher than the farthest stars. |
13But you reply, ‘That’s why God can’t see what I am doing! How 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? |
14For thick clouds swirl about him, and he cannot see us. He is way up there, walking 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 continue on the old paths where evil people have walked? | 15“Will you continue on the old paths where evil people have walked? |
16They were snatched away in the prime of life, the foundations of their lives washed away. | 16They were snatched away in the prime of life, the foundations of their lives washed away. |
17For they said to God, ‘Leave us alone! What can the Almighty do to us?’ | 17For they said to God, ‘Leave us alone! What can the Almighty do to us?’ |
18Yet he was the one who filled their homes with good things, so I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking. | 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 will be happy to see the wicked destroyed, and the innocent will laugh in contempt. | 19“The righteous will be happy to see the wicked destroyed, and the innocent will laugh in contempt. |
20They will say, ‘See how our enemies have been destroyed. The last of them have been consumed in the fire.’ | 20They will say, ‘See how our enemies have been destroyed. The last of them have been consumed in the fire.’ |
21“Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you. | 21“Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you. |
22Listen to his instructions, and store them in your heart. | 22Listen to his instructions, and store them in your heart. |
23If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored— so clean up your life. | 23If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored— so clean up your life. |
24If you give up your lust for money and throw your precious gold into the river, | 24If you give up your lust for money and throw your precious gold into the river, |
25the Almighty himself will be your treasure. He will be your precious silver! | 25the Almighty himself will be your treasure. He will be your precious silver! |
26“Then you will take delight in the Almighty and look up to God. | 26“Then you will take delight in the Almighty and look up to God. |
27You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows to him. | 27You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows to him. |
28You will succeed in whatever you choose to do, and light will shine on the road ahead of you. | 28You will succeed in whatever you choose to do, and light will shine on the road ahead of you. |
29If people are in trouble and you say, ‘Help them,’ God will save them. | 29If people are in trouble and you say, ‘Help them,’ God will save them. |
30Even sinners will be rescued; they will be rescued because your hands are pure.” | 30Even sinners will be rescued; they will be rescued because your hands are pure.” |
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. | 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. |
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