1. Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2. “Can a man be profitable to God,Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?
3. Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous?Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless?
4. “Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you,And enters into judgment with you?
5. Is not your wickedness great,And your iniquity without end?
6. For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason,And stripped the naked of their clothing.
7. You have not given the weary water to drink,And you have withheld bread from the hungry.
8. But the mighty man possessed the land,And the honorable man dwelt in it.
9. You have sent widows away empty,And the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
10. Therefore snares are all around you,And sudden fear troubles you,
11. Or darkness so that you cannot see;And an abundance of water covers you.
12. “Is not God in the height of heaven?And see the highest stars, how lofty they are!
13. And you say, ‘What does God know?Can He judge through the deep darkness?
14. Thick clouds cover Him, so that He cannot see,And He walks above the circle of heaven.’