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[1]Thenanswered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
[2]Cana man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him?
[3]Isit any advantage to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways blameless?
[4]Isit for thy fear of Him that He reproveth thee, that He entereth with thee into judgment?
[5]Isnot thy wickedness great? And are not thine iniquities without end?
[6]Forthou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
[7]Thouhast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
[8]Andas a mighty man, who hath the earth, and as a man of rank, who dwelleth in it,
[9]Thouhast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
[10]Thereforesnares are round about thee, and sudden dread affrighted thee,
[11]Ordarkness, that thou canst not see, and abundance of waters cover thee.
[12]Isnot God in the height of heaven? And behold the topmost of the stars, how high they are!
[13]Andthou sayest: 'What doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud?
[14]Thickclouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven.'
[15]Wiltthou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?
[16]Whowere snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream;
[17]Whosaid unto God: 'Depart from us'; and what could the Almighty do unto them?
[18]YetHe filled their houses with good things—but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
[19]Therighteous saw it, and were glad, and the innocent laugh them to scorn:
[20]'Surelytheir substance is cut off, and their abundance the fire hath consumed.'
[21]Acquaintnow thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby shall thine increase be good.
[22]Receive,I pray thee, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in thy heart.
[23]Ifthou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up—if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents,
[24]Andlay thy treasure in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;
[25]Andthe Almighty be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee;
[26]Thensurely shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
[27]Thoushalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He will hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows;
[28]Thoushalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee, and light shall shine upon thy ways.
[29]Whenthey cast thee down, thou shalt say: 'There is lifting up'; for the humble person He saveth.
[30]Hedelivereth him that is innocent, yea, thou shalt be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.
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