1 Toe het Âlifas, die Temaniet, geantwoord en gesê:
2 Kan 'n man aan God 'n diens bewys? Nee, aan homself bewys die verstandige 'n diens.
3 Het die Almagtige daar belang by dat jy regverdig is? Of is dit voordeel vir Hom dat jy onberispelik wandel?
4 Is dit oor jou Godsvrees dat Hy jou bestraf, dat Hy met jou na die gereg gaan?
5 Is jou boosheid nie groot en jou ongeregtighede nie sonder einde nie?
6 Want jy het pand geneem van jou broers sonder noodsaak, en die klere van die naaktes het jy uitgetrek.
7 Aan die vermoeide het jy geen water gegee om te drink nie, en aan die hongerige het jy die brood onthou.
8 Maar aan die man van geweld -- aan hom behoort die land; en die aansienlike -- hy moet daarin woon!
9 Weduwees het jy met leë hande weggestuur, en die arms van die wese is verbrysel.
10 Daarom is daar vangnette rondom jou en maak die vrees jou skielik skrik.
11 Of sien jy die duisternis nie en die oorvloed van waters wat jou bedek?
12 Is God nie hemelhoog nie? En aanskou hoe hoog die hoogste sterre staan.
13 Maar jy sê: Wat weet God? Kan Hy deur donkerheid heen strafgerig hou?
14 Wolke is 'n bedekking vir Hom, sodat Hy nie sien nie; en oor die hemelgewelf wandel Hy.
15 Wil jy die pad van die ou tyd hou, wat die kwaaddoeners bewandel het,
16 wat gegryp is voor die tyd, wie se grondslag uitgegiet is soos 'n stroom,
17 wat tot God gesê het: Bly ver van ons af! en: Wat kan die Almagtige ons aandoen?
18 En tog het Hy hulle huise gevul met wat goed is. Maar die gesindheid van die goddelose is ver van my!
19 Die regverdiges sien dit en is bly, en die onskuldige spot met hulle en sê:
20 Waarlik, ons teëstander is verdelg; en wat hulle laat oorbly het, het die vuur verteer.
21 Sluit tog vriendskap met Hom, sodat jy vrede kan hê; daardeur sal goeie dinge oor jou kom.
22 Neem tog uit sy mond onderrig aan, en lê sy woorde weg in jou hart.
23 As jy tot die Almagtige terugkeer, sal jy gebou word; as jy die onreg verwyder uit jou tent.
24 En gooi die gouderts in die stof en tussen die rotse van die spruite die goud van Ofir.
25 Dan sal die Almagtige jou gouderts wees en stawe silwer vir jou.
26 Want dan sal jy in die Almagtige jou verlustig en jou aangesig tot God ophef.
27 Jy sal tot Hom bid, en Hy sal jou verhoor; en jy sal jou geloftes betaal.
28 Besluit jy iets, dan kom dit tot stand; en oor jou weë skyn 'n lig.
29 As die afdraand loop, dan sê jy: Boontoe! En hom wat neerslagtig is, verlos Hy.
30 Hy red selfs hom wat nie onskuldig is nie: ja, hy word gered deur die reinheid van jou hande.
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.