| Chapter 22 |
1 |
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, --
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2 |
'Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself. --
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3 |
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him, that you make your ways perfect? --
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4 |
Is it for your piety that he reproves you, That he enters with you into judgment? --
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5 |
Isn't your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities. --
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6 |
For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, And stripped the naked of their clothing. --
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7 |
You haven't given water to the weary to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry. --
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8 |
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it. --
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9 |
You have sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken. --
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10 |
Therefore snares are round about you. Sudden fear troubles you, --
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11 |
Or darkness, so that you can not see, And floods of waters cover you. --
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12 |
'Isn't God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the stars, how high they are! --
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13 |
You say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness? --
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14 |
Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn't see. He walks on the vault of the sky.' --
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15 |
Will you keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden, --
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16 |
Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream, --
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17 |
Who said to God, 'Depart from us;' And, 'What can the Almighty do for us?' --
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18 |
Yet he filled their houses with good things, But the counsel of the wicked is far from me. --
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19 |
The righteous see it, and are glad; The innocent laugh them to scorn, --
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20 |
Saying, 'Surely those who rose up against us are cut off, The fire has consumed the remnant of them.' --
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21 |
'Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace. Thereby good shall come to you. --
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22 |
Please receive the law from his mouth, And lay up his words in your heart. --
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23 |
If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, If you put away unrighteousness far from your tents. --
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24 |
Lay your treasure in the dust, The gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks. --
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25 |
The Almighty will be your treasure, Precious silver to you. --
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26 |
For then shall you delight yourself in the Almighty, And shall lift up your face to God. --
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27 |
You shall make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You shall pay your vows. --
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28 |
You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you. Light shall shine on your ways. --
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29 |
When they cast down, you shall say, 'be lifted up.' He will save the humble person. --
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30 |
He will even deliver him who is not innocent; Yes, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.' --
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