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.

1 Allora Elifaz di Teman rispose e disse:

2 "Può l’uomo recar qualche vantaggio a Dio? No; il savio non reca vantaggio che a sé stesso.

3 Se sei giusto, ne vien forse qualche diletto all’Onnipotente? Se sei integro nella tua condotta, ne ritrae egli un guadagno?

4 E’ forse per la paura che ha di te ch’egli ti castiga o vien teco in giudizio?

5 La tua malvagità non è essa grande e le tue iniquità non sono esse infinite?

6 Tu, per un nulla, prendevi pegno da’ tuoi fratelli, spogliavi delle lor vesti i mezzo ignudi.

7 Allo stanco non davi a bere dell’acqua, all’affamato rifiutavi del pane.

8 La terra apparteneva al più forte, e l’uomo influente vi piantava la sua dimora.

9 Rimandavi a vuoto le vedove, e le braccia degli orfani eran spezzate.

10 Ecco perché sei circondato di lacci, e spaventato da sùbiti terrori.

11 O non vedi le tenebre che t’avvolgono e la piena d’acque che ti sommerge?

12 Iddio non è egli lassù ne’ cieli? Guarda lassù le stelle eccelse, come stanno in alto!

13 E tu dici: "Iddio che sa? Può egli giudicare attraverso il buio?

14 Fitte nubi lo coprono e nulla vede; egli passeggia sulla vòlta de’ cieli".

15 Vuoi tu dunque seguir l’antica via per cui camminarono gli uomini iniqui,

16 che furon portati via prima del tempo, e il cui fondamento fu come un torrente che scorre?

17 Essi dicevano a Dio: "Ritirati da noi!" e chiedevano che mai potesse far per loro l’Onnipotente.

18 Eppure Iddio avea riempito le loro case di beni! Ah lungi da me il consiglio degli empi!

19 I giusti, vedendo la loro ruina, ne gioiscono e l’innocente si fa beffe di loro:

20 "Vedete se non son distrutti gli avversari nostri! la loro abbondanza l’ha divorata il fuoco!"

21 Riconciliati dunque con Dio; avrai pace, e ti sarà resa la prosperità.

22 Ricevi istruzioni dalla sua bocca, e riponi le sue parole nel tuo cuore.

23 Se torni all’Onnipotente, se allontani l’iniquità dalle tue tende, sarai ristabilito.

24 Getta l’oro nella polvere e l’oro d’Ophir tra i ciottoli del fiume

25 e l’Onnipotente sarà il tuo oro, egli ti sarà come l’argento acquistato con fatica.

26 Allora farai dell’Onnipotente la tua delizia, e alzerai la faccia verso Dio.

27 Lo pregherai, egli t’esaudirà, e tu scioglierai i voti che avrai fatto.

28 Quello che imprenderai, ti riuscirà; sul tuo cammino risplenderà la luce.

29 Se ti abbassano, tu dirai: "In alto!" e Dio soccorrerà chi ha gli occhi a terra;

30 libererà anche chi non è innocente, ei sarà salvo per la purità delle tue mani".