New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
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Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
2 "Can a mortal be of use to God? Can even the wisest be of service to him?
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Is it possible for a man to be of profit to God? No, for a man's wisdom is only of profit to himself.
3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?
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Is it of any interest to the Ruler of all that you are upright? or is it of use to him that your ways are without sin?
4 Is it for your piety that he reproves you, and enters into judgment with you?
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Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?
5 Is not your wickedness great? There is no end to your iniquities.
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Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.
6 For you have exacted pledges from your family for no reason, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
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For you have taken your brother's goods when he was not in your debt, and have taken away the clothing of those who have need of it.
7 You have given no water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
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You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.
8 The powerful possess the land, and the favored live in it.
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For it was the man with power who had the land, and the man with an honoured name who was living in it.
9 You have sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of the orphans you have crushed.
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You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father.
10 Therefore snares are around you, and sudden terror overwhelms you,
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For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.
11 or darkness so that you cannot see; a flood of water covers you.
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Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.
12 "Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are!
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Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!
13 Therefore you say, "What does God know? Can he judge through the deep darkness?
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And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?
14 Thick clouds enwrap him, so that he does not see, and he walks on the dome of heaven.'
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Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.
15 Will you keep to the old way that the wicked have trod?
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Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?
16 They were snatched away before their time; their foundation was washed away by a flood.
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Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:
17 They said to God, "Leave us alone,' and "What can the Almighty do to us?'
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Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?
18 Yet he filled their houses with good things— but the plans of the wicked are repugnant to me.
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Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!
19 The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent laugh them to scorn,
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The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,
20 saying, "Surely our adversaries are cut off, and what they left, the fire has consumed.'
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Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.
21 "Agree with God, and be at peace; in this way good will come to you.
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Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.
22 Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
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Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored, if you remove unrighteousness from your tents,
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If you come back to the Ruler of all, making yourself low before him; if you put evil far away from your tents;
24 if you treat gold like dust, and gold of Ophir like the stones of the torrent-bed,
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And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
25 and if the Almighty is your gold and your precious silver,
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Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;
26 then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God.
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For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.
27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows.
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You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.
28 You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.
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Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.
29 When others are humiliated, you say it is pride; for he saves the humble.
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For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.
30 He will deliver even those who are guilty; they will escape because of the cleanness of your hands."
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He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.