1 But Eliphaz the Themanite answering, said:
1 Then Eliphaz the Themanite answered, and said:
2 Can man be compared with God, yea though he be of perfect knowledge?
2 Can man be compared with God, even though he were of perfect knowledge?
3 What doth it profit God if thou be just? Or what doest thou advantage him if thy way be unspotted?
3 What doth it profit God if thou be just? Or what dost thou give him if thy way be unspotted?
4 Shall he be afraid to reprove thee, and come with thee into judgment:
4 Shall he reprove thee for fear, and come with thee into judgment:
5 And not for thy very great malice, and thine infinite iniquities?
5 And not for thy manifold wickedness and thy infinite iniquities?
6 For thou hast taken away the pledge of thy brethren without cause, and the naked thou hast spoiled of cloths.
6 For thou hast taken away the pledge of thy brethren without cause, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 Water to the weary thou hast not given, and from the hungry thou hast withdrawn bread.
7 Thou hast not given water to the weary, thou hast withdrawn bread from the hungry.
8 In the strength of thine arm thou didst possess the earth, and being the mightiest thou didst obtain it.
8 In the strength of thy arm thou didst possess the land, and being the most mighty thou holdest it.
9 Widows thou hast sent away empty, and the arms of pupils thou hast broken in pieces.
9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless thou hast broken in pieces.
10 Therefore art thou compassed with snares, and sudden fear troubleth thee.
10 Therefore art thou surrounded with snares, and sudden fear troubleth thee.
11 And thoughtest thou that thou shouldest not see darkness, and that thou shouldest not be oppressed with the violence of overflowing waters?
11 And didst thou think that thou shouldst not see darkness, and that thou shouldst not be covered with the violence of overflowing waters?
12 Doest thou not think that God is higher than heaven, and is exalted above the top of the stars?
12 Dost not thou think that God is higher than heaven, and is elevated above the height of the stars?
13 And thou sayst: For what knoweth God? And he judgeth as it were by a mist.
13 And thou sayst: What doth God know? And he judgeth as it were through a mist.
14 The clouds are his covert, neither doth he consider our things, and he walketh about the poles of heaven.
14 The clouds are his covert, and he doth not consider our things, and he walketh about the poles of heaven.
15 Doest thou covet to keep the path of worlds, which wicked men have trodden?
15 Dost thou desire to keep the path of ages, which wicked men have trodden?
16 Who were taken away before their time, and a flood hath overthrown their foundation.
16 Who were taken away before their time, and a flood hath overthrown their foundation.
17 Who said to God: Depart from us; and as though the Omnipotent could do nothing, they esteemed him:
17 Who said to God: Depart from us: and looked upon the Almighty as if he could do nothing:
18 Whereas he had filled their houses with good things, whose sentence be far from me.
18 Whereas he had filled their houses with good things: whose way of thinking be far from me.
19 The just shall see, & shall rejoice, & the innocent man shall scorn them.
19 ¹The just shall see, and shall rejoice, and the innocent shall laugh them to scorn.
20 Is not their exaltation cut down, and hath not fire devoured the remnants of them?
20 Is not their exaltation cut down, and hath not fire devoured the remnants of them?
21 Agree thou therefore to him, and have peace: and by these things thou shalt have the best fruits.
21 Submit thyself then to him, and be at peace: and thereby thou shalt have the best fruits.
22 Receive the law of his mouth, and put his words in thy heart.
22 Receive the law of his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart.
23 If thou wilt return to the Omnipotent, thou shalt be builded up, and shalt make iniquity far from thy tabernacle.
23 If thou wilt return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, and shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacle.
24 He shall give for earth flint, and for flint torrents of gold.
24 He shall give for earth flint, and for flint torrents of gold.
25 And the Omnipotent shall be against thine enemies, and silver shall be heaped together unto thee.
25 And the Almighty shall be against thy enemies, and silver shall be heaped together for thee.
26 Then shalt thou abound in delights upon the Omnipotent, and shalt lift up thy face to God.
26 Then shalt thou abound in delights in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face to God.
27 Thou shalt ask him, and he will hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.
27 Thou shalt pray to him, and he will hear thee, and thou shalt pay vows.
28 Thou shalt decree a thing, and it shall come to thee, and light shall shine in thy ways.
28 Thou shalt decree a thing, and it shall come to thee, and light shall shine in thy ways.
29 For who will be humbled, shall be in glory: & he that will bow down his eyes, he shall be saved.
29 ²For he that hath been humbled, shall be in glory: and he that shall bow down his eyes, he shall be saved.
30 The innocent shall be saved, but shall be saved in the cleanness of his hands.
30 The innocent shall be saved, and he shall be saved by the cleanness of his hands.