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7 You have not given water to the weary, you have withdrawn bread from the hungry.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