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1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
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Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
2 “Can a man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise person benefit him?
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"Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
3 What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would he gain if your ways were blameless?
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Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him, that you make your ways perfect?
4 “Is it for your piety that he rebukes you and brings charges against you?
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Is it for your piety that he reproves you, That he enters with you into judgment?
5 Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless?
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Isn't your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.
6 You demanded security from your relatives for no reason; you stripped people of their clothing, leaving them naked.
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For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, And stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 You gave no water to the weary and you withheld food from the hungry,
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You haven't given water to the weary to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry.
8 though you were a powerful man, owning land— an honored man, living on it.
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But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it.
9 And you sent widows away empty-handed and broke the strength of the fatherless.
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You have sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 That is why snares are all around you, why sudden peril terrifies you,
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Therefore snares are round about you. Sudden fear troubles you,
11 why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you.
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Or darkness, so that you can not see, And floods of waters cover you.
12 “Is not God in the heights of heaven? And see how lofty are the highest stars!
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"Isn't God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the stars, how high they are!
13 Yet you say, ‘What does God know? Does he judge through such darkness?
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You say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?
14 Thick clouds veil him, so he does not see us as he goes about in the vaulted heavens.’
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Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn't see. He walks on the vault of the sky.'
15 Will you keep to the old path that the wicked have trod?
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Will you keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden,
16 They were carried off before their time, their foundations washed away by a flood.
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Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,
17 They said to God, ‘Leave us alone! What can the Almighty do to us?’
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Who said to God, 'Depart from us;' And, 'What can the Almighty do for us?'
18 Yet it was he who filled their houses with good things, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.
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Yet he filled their houses with good things, But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19 The righteous see their ruin and rejoice; the innocent mock them, saying,
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The righteous see it, and are glad; The innocent laugh them to scorn,
20 ‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire devours their wealth.’
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Saying, 'Surely those who rose up against us are cut off, The fire has consumed the remnant of them.'
21 “Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.
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"Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace. Thereby good shall come to you.
22 Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.
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Please receive instruction from his mouth, And lay up his words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from your tent
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If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, If you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.
24 and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines,
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Lay your treasure in the dust, The gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.
25 then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you.
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The Almighty will be your treasure, Precious silver to you.
26 Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God.
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For then shall you delight yourself in the Almighty, And shall lift up your face to God.
27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
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You shall make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You shall pay your vows.
28 What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways.
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You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you. Light shall shine on your ways.
29 When people are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then he will save the downcast.
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When they cast down, you shall say, 'be lifted up.' He will save the humble person.
30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”
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He will even deliver him who is not innocent; Yes, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
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