Job 22
Tree of Life Version
Eliphaz Keeps Pointing at Sin
22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded saying:
2 “Can a man be useful to God?
Can even a wise man benefit Him?
3 What pleasure is it to Shaddai if you are righteous?
Or what gain if your ways are blameless?
4 Is it because of your reverence that He corrects you
and He brings judgment against you?
5 Is not your wickedness great,
and is there no end to your iniquity?
6 For you took pledges from your brothers for no reason;
you stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 You gave the weary no water to drink
and from the hungry you withhold bread,
8 Though you were a mighty man, owning land—
an honored man living on it.
9 You sent widows away empty-handed
and crushed the arms of orphans.
10 “That is why snares surround you,
and why sudden fear terrifies you,
11 or why it is so dark that you cannot see.
and why a flood of water covers you.
12 “Is not God in the heights of heaven?
And see the lofty stars how high they are?
13 Yet you say, ‘What does God know?
Does He judge through such thick darkness?
14 Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see,
as He walks in the vault of heaven.’
15 Will you keep to the old way
that wicked men have trod?
16 They were snatched away before their time,
their foundations washed away by a river.
17 They said to God, ‘Leave us alone!
What can Shaddai do to us?’
18 Yet He filled their houses with good things—
but the counsel of the wicked is far from me!
19 The righteous see and rejoice;
the innocent mock them, saying,
20 ‘Surely our foes are cut off,
and fire consumes their abundance.’
21 “Reconcile now with Him and have shalom—
in this way prosperity will come to you.
22 Accept instruction from His mouth
and store up His words in your heart.
23 If you return to Shaddai, you will be restored;
if you remove iniquity far from your tent
24 and throw your gold in the dust,
and the gold of Ophir to the rocks in the wadis,
25 then Shaddai will be your gold
and your precious silver.
26 Surely then Shaddai will be your delight
and you will lift up your face to God.
27 You will pray to Him and He will hear you,
and you will fulfill your vows.
28 What you decide will be done,
and light will shine on your ways.
29 When people are brought low, and you say, ‘Lift them up!’
then He will save the downcast.
30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent,
who will be delivered by the cleanness of your hands.”
Job 22
New King James Version
Eliphaz Accuses Job of Wickedness
22 Then (A)Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2 “Can(B) a man be profitable to God,
Though he who 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 blameless?
4 “Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you,
And enters into judgment with you?
5 Is not your wickedness great,
And your iniquity without end?
6 For you have (C)taken pledges from your brother for no reason,
And stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 You have not given the weary water to drink,
And you (D)have withheld bread from the hungry.
8 But the [a]mighty man possessed the land,
And the honorable man dwelt in it.
9 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.”
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
