Eliphaz: Can a Man Be of Use to God? 1 Brenton Then Eliphaz the Thæmanite answered and said, BSB BSB: Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 Brenton Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge? BSB BSB: “Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
3 Brenton For what matters it to the Lord, if thou wert blameless in thy works? or is it profitable that thou shouldest perfect thy way? BSB BSB: Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?
4 Brenton Wilt thou maintain and plead thine own cause? and will he enter into judgment with thee? BSB BSB: Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?
5 Brenton Is not thy wickedness abundant, and thy sins innumerable? BSB BSB: Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?
6 Brenton And thou hast taken security of thy brethren for nothing, and hast taken away the clothing of the naked. BSB BSB: For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.
7 Brenton Neither hast thou given water to the thirsty to drink, but hast taken away the morsel of the hungry. BSB BSB: You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,
8 Brenton And thou hast accepted the persons of some; and thou hast established those that were already settled on the earth. BSB BSB: while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it.
9 Brenton But thou hast sent widows away empty, and hast afflicted orphans. BSB BSB: You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
10 Brenton Therefore snares have compassed thee, and disastrous war has troubled thee. BSB BSB: Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;
11 Brenton The light has proved darkness to thee, and water has covered thee on thy lying down. BSB BSB: it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
12 Brenton Does not he that dwells in the high places observe? and has he not brought down the proud? BSB BSB: Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!
13 Brenton And thou hast said, What does the Mighty One know? does he judge in the dark? BSB BSB: Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?
14 Brenton A cloud is his hiding-place, and he shall not be seen; and he passes through the circle of heaven. BSB BSB: Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’
15 Brenton Wilt thou not mark the old way, which righteous men have trodden? BSB BSB: Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?
16 Brenton who were seized before their time: their foundations are as an overflowing stream. BSB BSB: They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.
17 Brenton Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us? BSB BSB: They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’
18 Brenton Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from him. BSB BSB: But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
19 Brenton The righteous have seen it , and laughed, and the blameless one has derided them . BSB BSB: The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them:
20 Brenton Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their property . BSB BSB: ‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’
21 Brenton Be firm, I pray thee, if thou canst endure; then thy fruit shall prosper. BSB BSB: Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
22 Brenton And receive a declaration from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. BSB BSB: Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
23 Brenton And if thou shalt turn and humble thyself before the Lord, thou hast thus removed unrighteousness far from thy habitation. BSB BSB: If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents
24 Brenton Thou shalt lay up for thyself treasure in a heap on the rock; and Sophir shall be as the rock of the torrent. BSB BSB: and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,
25 Brenton So the Almighty shall be thy helper from enemies, and he shall bring thee forth pure as silver that has been tried by fire. BSB BSB: then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.
26 Brenton Then shalt thou have boldness before the Lord, looking up cheerfully to heaven. BSB BSB: Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
27 Brenton And he shall hear thee when thou prayest to him, and he shall grant thee power to pay thy vows. BSB BSB: You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
28 Brenton And he shall establish to thee again a habitation of righteousness and there shall be light upon thy paths. BSB BSB: Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.
29 Brenton Because thou hast humbled thyself; and thou shalt say, Man has behaved proudly, but he shall save him that is of lowly eyes. BSB BSB: When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.
30 Brenton He shall deliver the innocent, and do thou save thyself by thy pure 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.