2.8 KiB
Eliphaz Says Job Must Repent
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Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
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"Can a mighty man be of use to God, Or an insightful man be useful to himself?
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Is there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, Or profit if you make your ways perfect?
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Is it because of your reverent fear that He reproves you, That He enters into judgment against you?
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Is not your evil great, And your iniquities without end?
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For you have taken pledges of your brothers without cause, And stripped the clothing of the naked.
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To the weary you have given no water to drink, And from the hungry you have withheld bread.
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But the earth belongs to the mighty man, And the highly respected man inhabits it.
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You have sent widows away empty, And the might of the orphans has been crushed.
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Therefore snares surround you, And sudden dread terrifies you,
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Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And an abundance of water covers you.
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"Is not God in the height of heaven? Look also at the distant stars, how high they are!
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You say, 'What does God know? Can He judge through the dense gloom?
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Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see; And He walks on the vault of heaven.'
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Will you keep to the ancient path Which wicked men have trod,
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Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were washed away by a river?
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They said to God, 'Depart from us!' And 'What can the Almighty do to them?'
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Yet He filled their houses with good things, But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
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The righteous see and are glad, And the innocent mock them,
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Saying, 'Truly those who rise against us are wiped out, And their abundance the fire has consumed.'
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"Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you.
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Please receive instruction from His mouth And set His words in your heart.
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If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent,
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And put your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,
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Then the Almighty will be your gold And choice silver to you.
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For then you will delight in the Almighty And lift up your face to God.
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You will entreat Him, and He will hear you; And you will pay your vows.
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You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.
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When some are cast down, you will speak with confidence, And the humble person He will save.
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He will provide escape for one who is not innocent, And he will escape through the cleanness of your hands."