| Chapter 22 |
1 |
Then Eliphaz the Themanite answered, and said: --
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2 |
Can man be compared with God, even though he were of perfect knowledge? --
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3 |
What doth it profit God if thou be just? or what dost thou give him if thy way be unspotted? --
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4 |
Shall he reprove thee for fear, and come with thee into judgment: --
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5 |
And not for thy manifold wickedness, and thy infinite iniquities? --
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6 |
For thou hast taken away the pledge of thy brethren without cause, and stripped the naked of their clothing. --
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7 |
Thou hast not given water to the weary, thou hast withdrawn bread from the hungry. --
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8 |
In the strength of thy arm thou didst possess the land, and being the most mighty thou holdest it. --
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9 |
Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless thou hast broken in pieces. --
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10 |
Therefore art thou surrounded with snares, and sudden fear troubleth thee. --
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11 |
And didst thou think that thou shouldst not see darkness, and that thou shouldst not be covered with the violence of overflowing waters? --
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12 |
Dost not thou think that God is higher than heaven, and is elevated above the height of the stars? --
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13 |
And thou sayst: What doth God know? and he judgeth as it were through a mist. --
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14 |
The clouds are his covert, and he doth not consider our things, and he walketh about the poles of heaven. --
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15 |
Dost thou desire to keep the path of ages, which wicked men have trodden? --
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16 |
Who were taken away before their time, and a flood hath overthrown their foundation. --
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17 |
Who said to God: Depart from us: and looked upon the Almighty as if he could do nothing: --
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18 |
Whereas he had filled their houses with good things: whose way of thinking be far from me. --
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19 |
The just shall see, and shall rejoice, and the innocent shall laugh them to scorn. --
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20 |
Is not their exaltation cut down, and hath not fire devoured the remnants of them? --
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21 |
Submit thyself then to him, and be at peace: and thereby thou shalt have the best fruits. --
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22 |
Receive the law of his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart. --
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23 |
If thou wilt return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, and shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacle. --
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24 |
He shall give for earth flint, and for flint torrents of gold. --
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25 |
And the Almighty shall be against thy enemies, and silver shall be heaped together for thee. --
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26 |
Then shalt thou abound in delights in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face to God. --
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27 |
Thou shalt pray to him, and he will hear thee, and thou shalt pay vows. --
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28 |
Thou shalt decree a thing, and it I shall come to thee, and light shall shine in thy ways. --
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29 |
For he that hath been humbled, shall be in glory: and he that shall bow down his eyes, he shall be saved. --
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30 |
The innocent shall be saved, and he shall be saved by the cleanness of his hands. --
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