Chapter 22

¹ Then Eliphaz the Thæmanite answered and said,

² Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge? ³ For what matters it to the Lord, if thou wert blameless in thy works? or is it profitable that thou shouldest ¹perfect thy way? ⁴ Wilt thou maintain and plead thine own cause? and ²will he enter into judgment with thee?

⁵ Is not thy wickedness abundant, and thy sins innumerable? ⁶ And thou hast taken security of thy brethren for nothing, and hast taken away the clothing of the naked. ⁷ Neither hast thou given water to the thirsty to drink, but hast taken away the morsel of the hungry. ⁸ And ³thou hast accepted the persons of some; and thou hast established those that were already settled on the earth. ⁹ But thou hast sent widows away empty, and has afflicted orphans. ¹⁰ Therefore snares have compassed thee, and disastrous war has troubled thee. ¹¹ The light has proved darkness to thee, and water has covered thee on thy lying down.

682

¹² Does not he that dwells in the high places observe? and has he not brought down the proud? ¹³ And thou has said, What does the Mighty One know? does he judge in the dark? ¹⁴ A cloud is his hiding-place, and he shall not be seen; and he passes through the circle of heaven. ¹⁵ Wilt thou not mark the ⁴old way, which ⁵righteous men have trodden? ¹⁶ who were seized before their time: their foundations are as an overflowing stream. ¹⁷ Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us? ¹⁸ Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel for the wicked is far from him. ¹⁹ The righteous have seen it, and laughed, and the blameless one has derided them. ²⁰ Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their property.

²¹ Be firm, I pray thee, if thou canst endure; then thy fruit shall prosper. ²² And receive a declaration from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. ²³ And if thou shalt turn and humble thyself before the Lord, thou hast thus removed unrighteousness far from thy habitation. ²⁴ Thou shalt lay up for thyself treasure in a heap on the rock; and ⁶Sophir shall be as the rock of the torrent. ²⁵ So the Almighty shall be thy helper from enemies, and he shall bring thee forth pure as silver that has been tried by fire. ²⁶ Then shalt thou have boldness before the Lord, looking up cheerfully to heaven. ²⁷ And he shall hear thee when thou prayest to him, and he shall grant thee power to pay thy vows. ²⁸ And he shall establish to thee again a habitation of righteousness and there shall be light upon thy paths. ²⁹ Because thou hast humbled thyself; and thou shalt say, Man has behaved proudly, but he shall save him that is of lowly eyes. ³⁰ He shall deliver the innocent, and do thou save thyself by thy pure hands.