Job 22 :: New English Translation (NET)

Eliphaz Accuses and Exhorts Job

Job 22:1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

Job 22:2"Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit? Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable?

Job 22:3Is 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?

Job 22:4

Job 22:4Is it because of your piety that he rebukes you and goes to judgment with you?

Job 22:5

Job 22:5Is not your wickedness great and is there no end to your iniquity?

Job 22:6

Job 22:6"For you took pledges from your brothers for no reason, and you stripped the clothing from the naked.

Job 22:7

Job 22:7You gave the weary no water to drink and from the hungry you withheld food.

Job 22:8

Job 22:8Although you were a powerful man, owning land, an honored man living on it,

Job 22:9

Job 22:9you sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of the orphans you crushed.

Job 22:10

Job 22:10That is why snares surround you, and why sudden fear terrifies you,

Job 22:11

Job 22:11why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you.

Job 22:12

Job 22:12"Is not God on high in heaven? And see the lofty stars, how high they are!

Job 22:13

Job 22:13But you have said, 'What does God know? Does he judge through such deep darkness?

Job 22:14

Job 22:14Thick clouds are a veil for him, so he does not see us, as he goes back and forth in the vault of heaven.'

Job 22:15

Job 22:15Will you keep to the old path that evil men have walked -

Job 22:16

Job 22:16men who were carried off before their time, when the flood was poured out on their foundations?

Job 22:17

Job 22:17They were saying to God, 'Turn away from us,' and 'What can the Almighty do to us?'

Job 22:18

Job 22:18But it was he who filled their houses with good things - yet the counsel of the wicked was far from me.

Job 22:19

Job 22:19The righteous see their destruction and rejoice; the innocent mock them scornfully, saying,

Job 22:20

Job 22:20'Surely our enemies are destroyed, and fire consumes their wealth.'

Job 22:21

Job 22:21"Reconcile yourself with God, and be at peace with him; in this way your prosperity will be good.

Job 22:22

Job 22:22Accept instruction from his mouth and store up his words in your heart.

Job 22:23

Job 22:23If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; if you remove wicked behavior far from your tent,

Job 22:24

Job 22:24and throw your gold in the dust - your gold of Ophir among the rocks in the ravines -

Job 22:25

Job 22:25then the Almighty himself will be your gold, and the choicest silver for you.

Job 22:26

Job 22:26Surely then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and will lift up your face toward God.

Job 22:27

Job 22:27You will pray to him and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows to him.

Job 22:28

Job 22:28Whatever you decide on a matter, it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.

Job 22:29

Job 22:29When people are brought low and you say 'Lift them up!' then he will save the downcast;

Job 22:30

Job 22:30he will deliver even someone who is not innocent, who will escape through the cleanness of your hands."

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Job 22 :: New English Translation (NET)

Eliphaz Accuses and Exhorts Job

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