Job 22
Eliphaz accuses Job of being wicked and claims that his suffering is a result of his many evil deeds. He argues that Job's supposed righteousness is of no benefit to God and that his actions have harmed others, including the poor and the vulnerable. Eliphaz urges Job to return to God and accept His law, promising that if he does, God will restore him and bless him with prosperity and protection.
Then Eliphaz the Themanite responded by sayingCan man be compared with God, even if he were perfect in knowledgeWhat advantage is it to God, if you were just? Or what do you provide for him, if your way should be immaculateWill he reprove you and take you to judgment for being afraidand not because of your many evil deeds and your infinite unfairnessFor you have taken away the collateral of your brothers without cause, and stripped them naked of their clothingYou have not given water to the weary; you have taken bread away from the hungryBy the strength of your arm, you took possession of the land, and you retain it by being the strongestYou have sent widows away empty, and you have crushed the shoulders of orphansBecause of this, you are surrounded by traps, and unexpected fears will disturb youAnd did you think that you would not see darkness and that you were not to be overwhelmed by the on-rush of overflowing watersHave you not considered that God is higher than the heavens and is lifted above the height of the starsAnd you say: "Well, what does God know?" and, "He judges, as if through a fog,and, "The clouds are his hiding-place," and, "He does not examine us closely," and, "He makes his rounds at the limits of the heavens.Do you not want to tend the path of the ages, which wicked men have spurnedThese were taken away before their time, and a flood overthrew their foundationThey said to God, "Withdraw from us," and they treated the Almighty as if he could do nothingthough he had filled their houses with good things. May their way of thinking be far from meThe just will see and will rejoice, and the innocent will mock themHas not their haughtiness been cut down, and has not fire devoured the remnants of themSo, repose yourself with him and be at peace, and, in this way, you will have the best fruitsAccept the law from his mouth, and place his words in your heartIf you will return to the Almighty, you will be rebuilt, and you will put sinfulness far from your tabernacleHe will give you stone in place of dirt, and torrents of gold in place of stoneAnd the Almighty will be against your enemies, and silver will be gathered together for youThen will you flock together in delight over the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to GodYou will plead with him, and he will listen to you, and you will pay your vowsYou will decide on something, and it will come to you, and the light will shine in your waysFor he who had been humbled, will be in glory; and he who will lower his eyes, will be the one savedThe innocent will be saved, and he will be saved with purity in his hands
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