J7 V¹ 1-4. Argument. [General.] Concerning God.
W X 5-9. Accusation. [Particular.]
Y 10,11. Punishment. [Particular.]
V² 12. Argument. [General.] Concerning God.
W X 13,14. Argument. [Particular.]
Y 15-20. Punishment. [General.]
V³ 21-30. Argument. [Particular.] Concerning God, as Job.
1656 B.C.
Job 22)
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite spoke and said,
2 "Can a strong man be profitable to GOD (El), no he that is wise may be profitable to himself?
3 Is it any pleasure to The Almighty, that you are righteous? or is it gain to Him, that you make your ways perfect?
4 Will He reprove you for fear of you? will He enter with you into judgment?
5 Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities without end?
6 For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing, and stripped the poorly clad of their clothing.
7 You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honorable man dwelt in it.
9 You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubles you;
11 Or darkness, that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you.
12 Is not GOD (Eloah) in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
13 And you say, 'How does GOD know? can He judge through the dark cloud?
14 Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He sees not; and He walks habitually in the vault of heaven.'
15 Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:
17 Which said to God, 'Depart from us:' and what can The Almighty do for them?
18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the lawless is far from me.
19 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
20 Surely our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumes.
21 Acquaint now yourself with Him (this is the false theology of Eliphaz. See 42:8), and be at peace: thereby your gain shall be a blessing to you.
22 Receive, I pray you, the law from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
23 If you return to The Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tent.
24 Then shall you lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
25 Yes, The Almighty shall be your defense, and you shall have plenty of silver.
26 For then shall you have your delight in The Almighty, and shall lift up your face to GOD.
27 you shall make your prayer to Him, and He shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows.
28 You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you: and the light shall shine upon your ways.
29 When men are cast down, then you shall say, 'There is lifting up; and He shall save the humble person. (Heb. the man of downcast eyes. Cp. Luke 18:13.)
30 He shall deliver the island (put for coasts or borders) of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of your hands.' "