1Then Eliphaz the Thaemanite answered and said,
2Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge?
3For what matters it to the Lord, if you were blameless in your works? or is it profitable that you should perfect your way?
4Will you maintain and plead your own cause? and will he enter into judgment with you?
5Is not your wickedness abundant, and your sins innumerable?
6And you have taken security of your brethren for nothing, and have taken away the clothing of the naked.
7Neither have you given water to the thirsty to drink, but have taken away the morsel of the hungry.
8And you have accepted the persons of some; and you have established those that were already settled on the earth.
9But you have sent widows away empty, and has afflicted orphans.
10Therefore snares have compassed you, and disastrous war has troubled you.
11The light has proved darkness to you, and water has covered you on your lying down.
12Does not he that dwells in the high places observe? and has he not brought down the proud?
13And you have said, What does the Mighty One know? does he judge in the dark?
14A cloud is his hiding-place, and he shall not be seen; and he passes through the circle of heaven.
15Will you not mark the old way, which righteous men have trodden?
16who were seized before their time: their foundations are as an overflowing stream.
17Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us?
18Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel for the wicked is far from him.
19The righteous have seen it , and laughed, and the blameless one has derided them .
20Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their property .
21Be firm, I pray you, if you can endure; then your fruit shall prosper.
22And receive a declaration from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23And if you shall turn and humble yourself before the Lord, you have thus removed unrighteousness far from your habitation.
24You shall lay up for yourself treasure in a heap on the rock; and Sophir shall be as the rock of the torrent.
25So the Almighty shall be your helper from enemies, and he shall bring you forth pure as silver that has been tried by fire.
26Then shall you have boldness before the Lord, looking up cheerfully to heaven.
27And he shall hear you when you pray to him, and he shall grant you power to pay your vows.
28And he shall establish to you again a habitation of righteousness and there shall be light upon your paths.
29Because you have humbled yourself; and you shall say, Man has behaved proudly, but he shall save him that is of lowly eyes.
30He shall deliver the innocent, and do you save yourself by your pure hands.