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Eliphaz’s Third Speech[a]

22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

“Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit?
Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable?[b]
Is it of any special benefit[c] to the Almighty
that you should be righteous,
or is it any gain to him
that you make your ways blameless?[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Job 22:1 sn The third and final cycle of speeches now begins with Eliphaz’ final speech. Eliphaz will here underscore the argument that man’s ills are brought about by sin; he will then deduce from Job’s sufferings the sins he must have committed and the sinful attitude he has about God. The speech has four parts: Job’s suffering is proof of his sin (2-5), Job’s sufferings demonstrate the kinds of sin Job committed (6-11), Job’s attitude about God (12-20), and the final appeal and promise to Job (21-30).
  2. Job 22:2 tn Some do not take this to be parallel to the first colon, taking this line as a statement, but the parallel expressions here suggest the question is repeated.
  3. Job 22:3 tn The word חֵפֶץ (khefets) in this passage has the nuance of “special benefit; favor.” It does not just express the desire for something or the interest in it, but the profit one derives from it.
  4. Job 22:3 tn The verb תַתֵּם (tattem) is the Hiphil imperfect of תָּמַם (tamam, “be complete, finished”), following the Aramaic form of the geminate verb with a doubling of the first letter.

Third Series of Speeches

Eliphaz Speaks

22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

Can a man be of any use to God?
Can even a wise man be of use to him?
Does it delight the Almighty if you are righteous?
Does he profit if you perfect your behavior?(A)

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