1 Então respondeu Elifaz, o temanita, dizendo:
2 Porventura será o homem de algum proveito a Deus? Antes a si mesmo o prudente será proveitoso.
3 Ou tem o Todo-Poderoso prazer em que tu sejas justo, ou algum lucro em que tu faças perfeitos os teus caminhos?
4 Ou te repreende, pelo temor que tem de ti, ou entra contigo em juízo?
5 Porventura não é grande a tua malícia, e sem termo as tuas iniqüidades?
6 Porque sem causa penhoraste a teus irmãos, e aos nus despojaste as vestes.
7 Não deste ao cansado água a beber, e ao faminto retiveste o pão.
8 Mas para o poderoso era a terra, e o homem tido em respeito habitava nela.
9 As viúvas despediste vazias, e os braços dos órfãos foram quebrados.
10 Por isso é que estás cercado de laços, e te perturba um pavor repentino,
11 Ou trevas em que nada vês, e a abundância de águas que te cobre.
12 Porventura Deus não está na altura dos céus? Olha para a altura das estrelas; quão elevadas estão.
13 E dizes: que sabe Deus? Porventura julgará ele através da escuridão?
14 As nuvens são esconderijo para ele, para que não veja; e passeia pelo circuito dos céus.
15 Porventura queres guardar a vereda antiga, que pisaram os homens iníquos?
16 Eles foram arrebatados antes do seu tempo; sobre o seu fundamento um dilúvio se derramou.
17 Diziam a Deus: Retira-te de nós. E: Que foi que o Todo-Poderoso nos fez?
18 Contudo ele encheu de bens as suas casas; mas o conselho dos ímpios esteja longe de mim.
19 Os justos o vêem, e se alegram, e o inocente escarnece deles.
20 Porquanto o nosso adversário não foi destruído, mas o fogo consumiu o que restou deles.
21 Apega-te, pois, a ele, e tem paz, e assim te sobrevirá o bem.
22 Aceita, peço-te, a lei da sua boca, e põe as suas palavras no teu coração.
23 Se te voltares ao Todo-Poderoso, serás edificado; se afastares a iniqüidade da tua tenda,
24 E deitares o teu tesouro no pó, e o ouro de Ofir nas pedras dos ribeiros,
25 Então o Todo-Poderoso será o teu tesouro, e a tua prata acumulada.
26 Porque então te deleitarás no Todo-Poderoso, e levantarás o teu rosto para Deus.
27 Orarás a ele, e ele te ouvirá, e pagarás os teus votos.
28 Determinarás tu algum negócio, e ser-te-á firme, e a luz brilhará em teus caminhos.
29 Quando te abaterem, então tu dirás: Haja exaltação! E Deus salvará ao humilde.
30 E livrará até ao que não é inocente; porque será libertado pela pureza de tuas mãos.
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
2 Is it possible for a man to be of profit to God? No, for a man's wisdom is only of profit to himself.
3 Is it of any interest to the Ruler of all that you are upright? or is it of use to him that your ways are without sin?
4 Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?
5 Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.
6 For you have taken your brother's goods when he was not in your debt, and have taken away the clothing of those who have need of it.
7 You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.
8 For it was the man with power who had the land, and the man with an honoured name who was living in it.
9 You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father.
10 For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.
11 Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.
12 Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!
13 And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?
14 Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.
15 Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?
16 Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:
17 Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?
18 Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!
19 The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,
20 Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.
21 Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.
22 Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.
23 If you come back to the Ruler of all, making yourself low before him; if you put evil far away from your tents;
24 And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
25 Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;
26 For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.
27 You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.
28 Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.
29 For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.
30 He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.