Job 22

1 Then Eliphaz [a friend of Job] the Temanite [a descendant of Teman, a duke of Edom] replied [answered and said, responded]: word study 2 “Can a man [a mortal, human being] be of use [profitable, beneficial] to God [the Almighty, divine Ruler]? Can even a wise [prudent, discerning] man benefit [be useful, serve] Him? word study 3 Does it delight [bring pleasure, cause joy] the Almighty [Shadday, all-powerful God] that you are righteous [just, morally upright]? Does He profit [gain, benefit] if your ways [path, manner of life] are blameless [perfect, without sin]? word study 4 Is it for your reverence [fear, respect, awe] that He rebukes [corrects, argues, convinces] you and enters [comes, approaches] into judgment [justice, righteous decision] against you? word study 5 Is not your [great, abundant] wickedness [moral evil, sin] great [many, numerous]? Are not your [infinite, endless] iniquities [sins, transgressions] endless [without limit, infinite]? word study 6 For [because of this reason, as a result] you needlessly [without cause, for nothing] demanded [taken, exacted] security [a pledge, guarantee] from your brothers [relatives, kin] and deprived [stripped, taken away] the naked [those without clothing, poor] of their clothing [garments, covering]. word study 7 You gave [refused to provide] no water [to drink, a source of refreshment] to the weary [faint, exhausted] and withheld [kept back, denied] food [bread, nourishment] from the famished [hungry, those in need], word study 8 while the land [earth, territory] belonged to a mighty man [powerful, strong], and a man [individual, person] of honor [respect, dignity] lived [dwelt, resided] on it [in it, upon the earth]. word study 9 You sent [without giving them anything, empty-handed] widows [women whose husbands have died, often left alone and vulnerable] away empty-handed [emptily, without purpose], and the strength [arm] of the fatherless [orphan, a child without a father] was crushed [bruised, broken]. word study 10 Therefore [as a result, thus] snares [nets, traps to catch you] surround [are round about, encompass] you, and sudden [unexpected] peril [fear, dread] terrifies [troubles, alarms] you; word study 11 it is so [extremely, utterly] dark [spiritual and physical darkness] you cannot see [are unable to perceive or discern], and a [great, overflowing] flood [abundance, multitude] of water [source of refreshment] covers [to cover, hide or overwhelm] you. word study 12 Is not [certainly not, absent] God [Eloah, the one true deity] as high [exalted, elevated] as the heavens [the visible universe, the sky]? Look [see, behold] at the highest [loftiest, most elevated] stars [celestial bodies, heavenly lights], how lofty [high, elevated] they are [exist, are situated]! word study 13 Yet you say [declare, assert]: ‘What [how, in what way] does God [the Almighty, divine Ruler] know [have knowledge of, be aware of]? Does He [as the righteous Judge] judge [vindicate, punish] through [by means of, in the midst of] thick darkness [a dark cloud, gloom]? word study 14 Thick clouds [a covering, a veil] veil Him [conceal His presence] so He does not see [is unable to observe] us as He traverses [walks, moves upon] the vault [the circle, the dome] of heaven [the sky, the spiritual realm]. ’ word study 15 Will you stay on the ancient [old, traditional] path [way, journey] that wicked [evil, troublesome] men [grown men, a few individuals] have trod [walked, stepped on, followed]? word study 16 They were snatched away [cut down, seized unexpectedly] before their time [in the midst of their days, prematurely], and their foundations [base, starting point] were swept away [poured out, overflowed] by a flood [river, overwhelming waters]. word study 17 They said [told, spoke to] to God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler], ‘Depart from us [turn aside, remove yourself from us]. What [how, in what way] can the Almighty [Shadday, the all-powerful One] do to us [for them, on our behalf]?’ word study 18 But it was He [the Almighty, God] who filled [completely satisfied, made full] their houses [homes, dwelling places] with good things [pleasant, beneficial, welfare]; so I stay far [at a distance, removed] from the counsel [advice, plan, purpose] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty, sinful] [those who are evil, unrighteous]. word study 19 The righteous [just, morally upright] see it and are glad [rejoice, filled with joy]; the innocent [guiltless, morally clean] mock [deride, laugh to scorn] them: word study 20 ‘Surely our foes [enemies, adversaries] are destroyed [cut off, consumed], and fire [burning, flame] has consumed [eaten, devoured] their excess [remainder, abundance, wealth].’ word study 21 Reconcile [make peace, be at peace with] now and be at peace [in a state of safety, with God’s favor] with Him [the Almighty, your Master]; thereby [as a result, by this means] good [pleasant, beneficial, welfare] will come to you [prosperity, well-being, a good outcome]. word study 22 Receive [I pray thee, please] instruction [the law, teaching] from His mouth [lips, the source of wisdom], and lay up [store, treasure] His words [promises, commands] in your heart [mind, innermost being]. word study 23 If you return [come back, turn to] to the Almighty [Shadday, the all-powerful One], you will be restored [built up, established]. If you remove [put away, eliminate] injustice [unrighteousness, moral evil] from your tents [tabernacles, dwelling places] word study 24 and consign your gold [precious treasure, wealth] to the dust [dry earth, clay] and the gold [valuable metal, riches] of Ophir [a region known for its wealth] to the stones [rocks, boulders] of the ravines [valleys, brooks], word study 25 then the Almighty [Shadday, all-powerful] will be your gold [precious treasure, wealth] and the finest [pure, refined] silver [valuable resource, riches] for you [as your defense, plenty]. word study 26 Surely then [at that time, in the future] you will delight [find joy, take pleasure] in the Almighty [Shadday, the all-powerful One] and lift up [raise, exalt] your face [presence, countenance] to God [Eloah, the one true Deity]. word study 27 You will pray [make supplication, offer requests] to Him, and He will hear [listen attentively, obey] you, and you will fulfill [complete, pay] your vows [promises, commitments to God]. word study 28 Your decisions [purposes, decrees] will be carried out [established, successful], and light [divine illumination, happiness] will shine [glitter, radiate] on your ways [path, journey, manner of life]. word study 29 When men are brought [humbled, cast down] low and you say, ‘Lift [exalt, help] them up!’ then He [God, the Savior] will save [deliver, rescue] the lowly [humble, bowed down]. word study 30 He will deliver [even rescue, save] even one who is not innocent [guiltless, free from sin], rescuing him [setting him free, liberating] through the cleanness [pureness, moral purity] of your hands [the palm of your hand].” word study