Job 22

Chapter 22

Eliphaz’s Third Response to Job

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 “Can a person do anything to help God?
Can even a wise person be helpful to him?3 Is it any advantage to the Almighty if you are righteous?
Would it be any gain to him if you were perfect?4 Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you
and brings judgment against you?5 No, it’s because of your wickedness!
There’s no limit to your sins.6 “For example, you must have lent money to your friend
and demanded clothing as security.
Yes, you stripped him to the bone.7 You must have refused water for the thirsty
and food for the hungry.8 You probably think the land belongs to the powerful
and only the privileged have a right to it!9 You must have sent widows away empty-handed
and crushed the hopes of orphans.10 That is why you are surrounded by traps
and tremble from sudden fears.11 That is why you cannot see in the darkness,
and waves of water cover you.12 “God is so great—higher than the heavens,
higher than the farthest stars.13 But you reply, ‘That’s why God can’t see what I am doing!
How can he judge through the thick darkness?14 For thick clouds swirl about him, and he cannot see us.
He is way up there, walking on the vault of heaven.’15 “Will you continue on the old paths
where evil people have walked?16 They were snatched away in the prime of life,
the foundations of their lives washed away.17 For they said to God, ‘Leave us alone!
What can the Almighty do to us?’18 Yet he was the one who filled their homes with good things,
so I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.19 “The righteous will be happy to see the wicked destroyed,
and the innocent will laugh in contempt.20 They will say, ‘See how our enemies have been destroyed.
The last of them have been consumed in the fire.’21 “Submit to God, and you will have peace;
then things will go well for you.22 Listen to his instructions,
and store them in your heart.23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored—
so clean up your life.24 If you give up your lust for money
and throw your precious gold into the river,25 the Almighty himself will be your treasure.
He will be your precious silver!26 “Then you will take delight in the Almighty
and look up to God.27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you,
and you will fulfill your vows to him.28 You will succeed in whatever you choose to do,
and light will shine on the road ahead of you.29 If people are in trouble and you say, ‘Help them,’
God will save them.30 Even sinners will be rescued;
they will be rescued because your hands are pure.”

JOB 22

Eliphaz's Third Speech

What Use Are We Humans //to God?

1 Eliphaz from Temant said:

2  t What use are we humans
to God,
even the wisest of us?

3 If you were completely sinless,
that would still mean nothing
to God All-Powerful.

4 Is he correcting you
for worshiping him?

5 No! It's because of
your terrible and endless sins.

6 To guarantee payment of a debt,
you have taken clothes
from innocent people.

7 And you refused bread and water
to the hungry and thirsty,

8 although you were rich,
respected, and powerful.

9 You have turned away widows
and have broken the arms
of orphans.

10 That's why you were suddenly
trapped by terror,

11 blinded by darkness,
and drowned in a flood.

God Lives in the Heavens

12 God lives in the heavens
above the highest stars,
where he sees everything.

13 Do you think the deep darkness
hides you from God?

14 Do thick clouds cover his eyes,
as he walks around heaven's dome
high above the earth?

15 Give up those ancient ideas
believed by sinners,

16 who were swept away
without warning.

17 They rejected God All-Powerful,
feeling he was helpless,

18 although he had been kind
to their families.
The beliefs of these sinners
are truly disgusting.

19 When God's people see
the godless swept away,
they celebrate,

20 saying,
“Our enemies are gone,
and fire has destroyed
their possessions.”

Surrender to God All-Powerful

21 Surrender to God All-Powerful!
You will find peace
and prosperity.

22 Listen to his teachings
and take them to heart.

23 If you return to God
and turn from sin,
all will go well for you.

24 So get rid of your finest gold,
as though it were sand.

25 Let God All-Powerful
be your silver and gold,

26 and you will find happiness
by worshiping him.

27 God will answer your prayers,
and you will keep the promises
you made to him.

28 He will do whatever you ask,
and life will be bright.

29 When others are disgraced,
God will clear their names
in answer to your prayers.

30 Even those who are guilty
will be forgiven,
because you obey God.t