1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 “ Can a man be of use to God? Can a wise man be of use to himself?

3 I s the All-powerful pleased if you are right and good? Is it of any use to Him if your ways were perfect?

4 I s it because of how you honor God that He speaks strong words to you and punishes you?

5 H ave you not done much wrong and your sins have no end?

6 F or you have taken things from your brothers when they did not owe you anything. You have taken all their clothing and they have had nothing to wear.

7 T o those who were tired, you have given no water to drink. And you have kept bread from the hungry.

8 B ut you were a powerful and respected man owning land and living on it.

9 Y ou have sent women away with nothing, whose husbands have died. And you have crushed the strength of children who have no parents.

10 S o traps are all around you, and much fear comes upon you all at once.

11 T his is why it is dark and you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

12 “ Is not God high up in heaven? See the highest stars, how high they are!

13 S o you say, ‘What does God know? Can He judge through the darkness?

14 C louds cover Him so that He cannot see. He walks on the roof of heaven.’

15 W ill you keep to the old way which sinful men have walked?

16 T hey were taken away before their time. The ground they stood on was washed away by a river.

17 T hey said to God, ‘Leave us!’ and ‘What can the All-powerful do to us?’

18 Y et He filled their houses with good things. But the wisdom of the sinful is far from me.

19 T hose who are right and good see it and are glad. Those who are without guilt make fun of them,

20 s aying, ‘For sure those who hate us are destroyed, and fire has destroyed what they owned.’

21 “ Agree with God, and be at peace with Him. Then good will come to you.

22 R eceive the teaching from His mouth, and keep His words in your heart.

23 I f you return to the All-powerful, things will be well with you again. Put sin far from your tent.

24 P ut your gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the river.

25 T hen the All-powerful will be your gold and silver of much worth.

26 T hen you will have joy in the All-powerful, and lift up your face to God.

27 Y ou will pray to Him, and He will hear you. And you will keep your promises to Him.

28 Y ou will decide something, and it will be done for you. Light will shine on your path.

29 F or God puts down the man who is filled with pride. But He saves the one who is not proud.

30 H e will save the man who is even guilty because he will be helped by your hands that are clean.”