Eliphaz: Can a Man Be of Use to God? 1 AKJV Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, BSB BSB: Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 AKJV Can a man be profitable to God, as he that is wise may be profitable to himself? BSB BSB: “Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
3 AKJV Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? or is it gain to him, that you make your ways perfect? BSB BSB: Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?
4 AKJV Will he reprove you for fear of you? will he enter with you into judgment? BSB BSB: Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?
5 AKJV Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities infinite? BSB BSB: Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?
6 AKJV For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing. BSB BSB: For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.
7 AKJV You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry. BSB BSB: You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,
8 AKJV But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honorable man dwelled in it. BSB BSB: while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it.
9 AKJV You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. BSB BSB: You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
10 AKJV Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubles you; BSB BSB: Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;
11 AKJV Or darkness, that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you. BSB BSB: it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
12 AKJV Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are! BSB BSB: Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!
13 AKJV And you say, How does God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? BSB BSB: Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?
14 AKJV Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he sees not; and he walks in the circuit of heaven. BSB BSB: Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’
15 AKJV Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? BSB BSB: Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?
16 AKJV Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood: BSB BSB: They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.
17 AKJV Which said to God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? BSB BSB: They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’
18 AKJV Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. BSB BSB: But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
19 AKJV The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn. BSB BSB: The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them:
20 AKJV Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumes. BSB BSB: ‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’
21 AKJV Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come to you. BSB BSB: Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
22 AKJV Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart. BSB BSB: Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
23 AKJV If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tabernacles. BSB BSB: If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents
24 AKJV Then shall you lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. BSB BSB: and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,
25 AKJV Yes, the Almighty shall be your defense, and you shall have plenty of silver. BSB BSB: then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.
26 AKJV For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face to God. BSB BSB: Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
27 AKJV You shall make your prayer to him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows. BSB BSB: You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
28 AKJV You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you: and the light shall shine on your ways. BSB BSB: Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.
29 AKJV When men are cast down, then you shall say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. BSB BSB: When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.
30 AKJV He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of your hands. BSB BSB: He will deliver even one who is not innocent, rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.