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[1] Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

[2] Can a man be profitable unto God? surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself.

[3] Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

[4] Is it for thy fear of him that he reproveth thee, that he entereth with thee into judgment?

[5] Is not thy wickedness great? neither is there any end to thine iniquities.

[6] For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

[7] Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

[8] But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man, he dwelt in it.

[9] Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

[10] Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee,

[11] Or darkness, that thou canst not see, and abundance of waters cover thee.

[12] Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

[13] And thou sayest, What doth God know? can he judge through the thick darkness?

[14] Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

[15] Wilt thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?

[16] Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream:

[17] Who said unto God, Depart from us; and, What can the Almighty do for us?

[18] Yet he fired their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

[19] The righteous see it, and are glad; and the innocent laugh them to scorn:

[20] Saying, Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, and the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.

[21] Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

[22] Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

[23] If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up; if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents.

[24] And lay thou thy treasure in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;

[25] And the Almighty shall be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee.

[26] For then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

[27] Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee; and thou shalt pay thy vows.

[28] Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; and light shall shine upon thy ways.

[29] When they cast thee down, thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and the humble person he shall save.

[30] He shall deliver even him that is not innocent: yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thine hands.

The Book Of Job. — Chapters