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Elifaz acusa a Job

22 Entonces respondió Elifaz temanita, y dijo:

¿Puede un hombre[a] ser útil a Dios(A),
o un sabio útil para sí mismo?
¿Es de algún beneficio al Todopoderoso[b] que tú seas justo,
o gana algo si haces perfectos tus caminos?
¿Es a causa de tu piedad[c] que Él te reprende,
que entra en juicio contigo(B)?
¿No es grande tu maldad,
y sin fin tus iniquidades(C)?
Porque sin razón tomabas prendas(D) de tus hermanos,
y has despojado de sus ropas a los desnudos(E).
No dabas de beber agua al cansado,
y le negabas(F) pan al hambriento(G).
Mas la tierra es del poderoso(H),
y el privilegiado[d](I) mora en ella.
Despedías a las viudas(J) con las manos vacías
y quebrabas los brazos[e] de los huérfanos(K).
10 Por eso te rodean lazos(L),
y te aterra temor repentino(M),
11 o tinieblas(N), y no puedes ver,
y abundancia de agua te cubre(O).

12 ¿No está Dios en lo alto de los cielos(P)?
Mira también las más lejanas[f] estrellas, ¡cuán altas están!
13 Y tú dices: «¿Qué sabe Dios(Q)?
¿Puede Él juzgar a través de las densas tinieblas?
14 Las nubes le ocultan(R), y no puede ver,
y se pasea por la bóveda[g] del cielo».
15 ¿Seguirás en la senda antigua
en que anduvieron los hombres malvados(S),
16 que fueron arrebatados antes de su tiempo(T),
y cuyos cimientos fueron arrasados[h] por un río(U)?
17 Ellos dijeron a Dios: «Apártate de nosotros»
y: «¿Qué puede hacernos[i] el Todopoderoso(V)?».
18 Él había colmado de bienes sus casas(W),
pero el consejo de los malos está lejos de mí(X).
19 Los justos ven y se alegran,
y el inocente se burla de ellos(Y),
20 diciendo: «Ciertamente nuestros adversarios son destruidos,
y el fuego ha consumido(Z) su abundancia[j]».

21 Cede[k] ahora y haz la paz con Él,
así te vendrá el bien(AA).
22 Recibe, te ruego, la instrucción[l] de su boca,
y pon sus palabras en tu corazón(AB).
23 Si vuelves al Todopoderoso(AC), serás restaurado[m].
Si alejas de tu tienda la injusticia(AD),
24 y pones tu oro[n](AE) en el polvo,
y el oro de Ofir entre las piedras de los arroyos,
25 el Todopoderoso será para ti tu oro[o]
y tu plata escogida.
26 Porque entonces te deleitarás en el Todopoderoso(AF),
y alzarás a Dios tu rostro.
27 Orarás a Él(AG) y te escuchará(AH),
y cumplirás tus votos.
28 Decidirás una cosa, y se te cumplirá,
y en tus caminos resplandecerá la luz(AI).
29 Cuando estés abatido[p], hablarás con confianza[q]
y Él salvará al humilde[r](AJ).
30 Él librará aun al que no es inocente,
que será librado por la pureza de tus manos[s](AK).

Footnotes

  1. Job 22:2 Lit., hombre fuerte
  2. Job 22:3 Heb., Shaddai, y así en el resto del cap.
  3. Job 22:4 O, temor
  4. Job 22:8 Lit., y rostro altivo
  5. Job 22:9 O, la fuerza
  6. Job 22:12 Lit., la corona, parte superior de las
  7. Job 22:14 Lit., el círculo
  8. Job 22:16 Lit., derramados
  9. Job 22:17 Así en algunas versiones antiguas; en el T.M., hacerles
  10. Job 22:20 O, exceso
  11. Job 22:21 O, Conócelo íntimamente
  12. Job 22:22 O, ley
  13. Job 22:23 Lit., edificado
  14. Job 22:24 Lit., mineral
  15. Job 22:25 Lit., mineral
  16. Job 22:29 Lit., te hagan caer
  17. Job 22:29 Lit., orgullo
  18. Job 22:29 Lit., humilde de ojos
  19. Job 22:30 Lit., palmas

Eliphaz Answers

22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

“Can anyone ·be of real use to [benefit] God?
    Can even a ·wise [skilled] person ·do him good [benefit him]?
Does it ·help [delight; give pleasure to] ·the Almighty [Shaddai] for you to be ·good [righteous]?
    ·Does he gain anything [What profit is it to him] if you are ·innocent [blameless]?
Does God ·punish [reprimand; reprove] you for ·respecting him [L your fear; C in the sense of piety]?
    Does he ·bring you into court for this [L enter into judgment with you]?
No! It is because your evil is ·without limits [L abundant]
    and your ·sins have [guilt has] no end.
You ·took your brothers’ things for a debt they didn’t owe [L exacted pledges from your brothers for no reason; Ex. 21:25–27];
    you took clothes from people and left them naked.
You did not give water to ·tired [weary] people,
    and you kept food from the ·hungry [famished; starving].
·You were a powerful man who [L The powerful] owned land;
    ·you were honored and [L the favored] lived in the land.
But you sent widows away empty-handed,
    and you ·mistreated [L crushed the arms/strength of the] orphans.
10 That is why traps are all around you
    and sudden danger frightens you.
11 That is why it is so dark you cannot see
    and a flood of water covers you.

12 “·God is [L Is not God…?] in the highest part of heaven.
    See how high the highest stars are [C God is even higher]!
13 But you ask, ‘What does God know?
    Can he judge us through the ·dark clouds [thick darkness]?
14 Thick clouds ·cover [hide] him so he cannot see us
    as he ·walks [wanders] around ·high up in the sky [L the vault/dome of heaven; C Eliphaz suspects Job denies God knows what is going on in human affairs].’
15 Are you going to ·stay on [guard] the ·old [ancient] path
    where ·evil [guilty] people ·walk [tread]?
16 They were ·carried away [or bound up] before their time was up,
    and their foundations were washed away by a ·flood [L river].
17 They said to God, ‘·Leave us alone [Get away from us; 21:14]!
    ·The Almighty can do nothing [L What can the Almighty/Shaddai do…?] to us.’
18 But ·it was God [L was it not he…?] who filled their houses with good things.
    Their ·way of thinking [plan; counsel] is ·different [far] from mine [21:16].

19 “·Good [Righteous] people can watch and be glad;
    the innocent can ·laugh at [mock; ridicule] them and say,
20 ‘Surely our enemies are destroyed,
    and fire burns up ·their wealth [or what is left of theirs].’

21 “·Obey God [L Get along with him] and be at peace with him;
    this is the way to ·happiness [or prosperity; C Eliphaz calls on Job to repent].
22 Accept ·teaching [instruction] from his mouth,
    and ·keep [put] his words in your heart.
23 If you return to ·the Almighty [Shaddai], you will be ·blessed again [L restored].
    So remove ·evil [iniquity] from your ·house [L tent].
24 ·Throw [Put] your gold nuggets into the dust
    and ·your fine gold [L Ophir; C referring to the fine gold of the region of Ophir, perhaps southern Arabia] among the rocks in the ·ravines [wadis].
25 Then ·the Almighty [Shaddai] will be your gold
    and the ·best [choice] silver for you.
26 You will ·find pleasure [delight] in ·the Almighty [Shaddai],
    and you will ·look up [show favor] to him.
27 You will ·pray to [entreat] him, and he will hear you,
    and you will keep your ·promises [vows; C made in anticipation of answered prayer] to him.
28 Anything you decide will be done,
    and light will ·shine on [illuminate] your ways.
29 When people are made humble and you say, ‘·Have courage [or It is pride],’
    then ·the humble [L those with downcast eyes] will be saved.
30 ·Even a guilty person will escape [or He rescues the innocent]
    and ·be saved [or and saves you] because your hands are ·clean [pure].”

Eliphaz

22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite(A) replied:

“Can a man be of benefit to God?(B)
    Can even a wise person benefit him?(C)
What pleasure(D) would it give the Almighty if you were righteous?(E)
    What would he gain if your ways were blameless?(F)

“Is it for your piety that he rebukes you
    and brings charges against you?(G)
Is not your wickedness great?
    Are not your sins(H) endless?(I)
You demanded security(J) from your relatives for no reason;(K)
    you stripped people of their clothing, leaving them naked.(L)
You gave no water(M) to the weary
    and you withheld food from the hungry,(N)
though you were a powerful man, owning land(O)
    an honored man,(P) living on it.(Q)
And you sent widows(R) away empty-handed(S)
    and broke the strength of the fatherless.(T)
10 That is why snares(U) are all around you,(V)
    why sudden peril terrifies you,(W)
11 why it is so dark(X) you cannot see,
    and why a flood of water covers you.(Y)

12 “Is not God in the heights of heaven?(Z)
    And see how lofty are the highest stars!
13 Yet you say, ‘What does God know?(AA)
    Does he judge through such darkness?(AB)
14 Thick clouds(AC) veil him, so he does not see us(AD)
    as he goes about in the vaulted heavens.’(AE)
15 Will you keep to the old path
    that the wicked(AF) have trod?(AG)
16 They were carried off before their time,(AH)
    their foundations(AI) washed away by a flood.(AJ)
17 They said to God, ‘Leave us alone!
    What can the Almighty do to us?’(AK)
18 Yet it was he who filled their houses with good things,(AL)
    so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.(AM)
19 The righteous see their ruin and rejoice;(AN)
    the innocent mock(AO) them, saying,
20 ‘Surely our foes are destroyed,(AP)
    and fire(AQ) devours their wealth.’

21 “Submit to God and be at peace(AR) with him;(AS)
    in this way prosperity will come to you.(AT)
22 Accept instruction from his mouth(AU)
    and lay up his words(AV) in your heart.(AW)
23 If you return(AX) to the Almighty, you will be restored:(AY)
    If you remove wickedness far from your tent(AZ)
24 and assign your nuggets(BA) to the dust,
    your gold(BB) of Ophir(BC) to the rocks in the ravines,(BD)
25 then the Almighty will be your gold,(BE)
    the choicest silver for you.(BF)
26 Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty(BG)
    and will lift up your face(BH) to God.(BI)
27 You will pray to him,(BJ) and he will hear you,(BK)
    and you will fulfill your vows.(BL)
28 What you decide on will be done,(BM)
    and light(BN) will shine on your ways.(BO)
29 When people are brought low(BP) and you say, ‘Lift them up!’
    then he will save the downcast.(BQ)
30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent,(BR)
    who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”(BS)

22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?

Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?

For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.

Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;

11 Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.

12 Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

13 And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

15 Hast thou 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 unto 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 wicked is far from me.

19 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.

20 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.

21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.

26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

30 He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.

Eliphaz Accuses Job of Wickedness

22 Then (A)Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

“Can(B) a man be profitable to God,
Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous?
Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless?

“Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you,
And enters into judgment with you?
Is not your wickedness great,
And your iniquity without end?
For you have (C)taken pledges from your brother for no reason,
And stripped the naked of their clothing.
You have not given the weary water to drink,
And you (D)have withheld bread from the hungry.
But the [a]mighty man possessed the land,
And the honorable man dwelt in it.
You have sent widows away empty,
And the [b]strength of the fatherless was crushed.
10 Therefore snares are all around you,
And sudden fear troubles you,
11 Or darkness so that you cannot see;
And an abundance of (E)water covers you.

12 “Is not God in the height of heaven?
And see the highest stars, how lofty they are!
13 And you say, (F)‘What does God know?
Can He judge through the deep darkness?
14 (G)Thick clouds cover Him, so that He cannot see,
And He walks above the circle of heaven.’
15 Will you keep to the old way
Which wicked men have trod,
16 Who (H)were cut down before their time,
Whose foundations were swept away by a flood?
17 (I)They said to God, ‘Depart from us!
What can the Almighty do to [c]them?’
18 Yet He filled their houses with good things;
But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19 “The(J) righteous see it and are glad,
And the innocent laugh at them:
20 ‘Surely our [d]adversaries are cut down,
And the fire consumes their remnant.’

21 “Now acquaint yourself with Him, and (K)be at peace;
Thereby good will come to you.
22 Receive, please, (L)instruction from His mouth,
And (M)lay up His words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up;
You will remove iniquity far from your tents.
24 Then you will (N)lay your gold in the dust,
And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.
25 Yes, the Almighty will be your [e]gold
And your precious silver;
26 For then you will have your (O)delight in the Almighty,
And lift up your face to God.
27 (P)You will make your prayer to Him,
He will hear you,
And you will pay your vows.
28 You will also declare a thing,
And it will be established for you;
So light will shine on your ways.
29 When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!
Then (Q)He will save the humble person.
30 He will even deliver one who is not innocent;
Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 22:8 Lit. man of arm
  2. Job 22:9 Lit. arms
  3. Job 22:17 LXX, Syr. us
  4. Job 22:20 LXX substance is
  5. Job 22:25 Ancient vss. suggest defense; MT gold, as in v. 24