1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:2Can a man be useful to God, that a prudent man should be useful to him?3Is it pleasure to the Almighty that you justify yourself, or gain that you make your ways perfect?4Is it because of your fear that he rebukes you? Does he enter into judgment with you?5Is not your harm great, and is there no end to your iniquities?6For you take your brothers in pledge without cause, and you strip the garments of the naked.7You give no water to the weary, and you withhold bread from the hungry.8As for the man of arm, the land is his, and the one whose face is lifted up dwells in it.9You send widows away empty, and you crush the arms of orphans.10Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden dread dismays you,11or darkness, so that you cannot see, and a flood of waters covers you.12Is not God the height of the heavens? And see the tops of the stars, for they are high.13And you say, "What does God know? Does he judge through the thick cloud?"14Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he does not see, and he walks about the circle of the heavens.15Will you keep the ancient way that evil men have trodden,16who were snatched away when it was not yet time, upon whose foundation a river was poured out?17They say to God, "Depart from us," and, "What can the Almighty do for them?"18Yet he filled their houses with good things, but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.19The righteous see it and rejoice, and the innocent mock them.20If our adversary has not been hidden, then fire has consumed their remnant.21Acquaint yourself now with him and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.22Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.23If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; you will put injustice far from your tent.24And lay your gold in the dust, and your Ophir among the rocks of the torrents,25and the Almighty will be your gold, and silver peaks will be yours.26For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to God.27You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows.28You will decree a thing, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.29For when they are brought low, you say, 'Pride,' but he saves the one who is lowly in eyes.30He delivers the one who is not innocent, and he is delivered by the cleanness of your hands.