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 Temanas Elifazas atsakydamas tarė:
2 "Ar gali žmogus būti naudingas Dievui? Išminčiaus nauda yra jam pačiam.
3 Ar Visagaliui malonu, jei esi teisus? Ar Jis turi naudos, jei tavo kelias nepeiktinas?
4 Ar dėl to, kad Jo bijai, Jis bara tave ir patraukia tave į teismą?
5 Ar ne dėl tavo didelės nedorybės ir nesuskaičiuojamų kalčių?
6 Ėmei užstatą iš savo brolių už nieką, nuplėšei nuogiesiems drabužius,
7 nepagirdei ištroškusio, alkano nepamaitinai.
8 Savo jėga įsigijai nuosavybę, būdamas galingas, pasilaikei ją.
9 Našles išvarei be nieko ir našlaičius palikai tuščiomis rankomis.
10 Todėl tu patekai į spąstus ir netikėta baimė vargina tave,
11 tamsoje tu negali matyti; vandens gausybė apdengė tave.
12 Argi Dievo nėra dangaus aukštybėje? Žiūrėk, kaip aukštai yra žvaigždės.
13 Tu sakai: ‘Ką Dievas žino? Ar Jis gali teisti pro tamsius debesis?
14 Tamsūs debesys dengia Jį, Jis nieko nemato vaikščiodamas dangaus skliautu’.
15 Ar vis dar laikaisi seno kelio, kuriuo piktadariai vaikščiojo?
16 Todėl jie nelaiku žuvo, jų pamatą nunešė tvanas.
17 Jie sakė Dievui: ‘Atsitrauk nuo mūsų’. Ką Visagalis padarys jiems?
18 Jis pripildė jų namus gėrybių, tačiau nedorėlių patarimas yra toli nuo manęs.
19 Teisusis mato tai ir džiaugiasi, nekaltieji tyčiojasi iš jų:
20 ‘Mūsų turtai nepražuvo, o tai, ką jie turėjo, suėdė ugnis’.
21 Susitaikyk su Juo ir nusiramink; tuomet ateis tau gerovė.
22 Priimk Jo pamokymus ir įsidėk Jo žodžius į širdį.
23 Jei grįši prie Visagalio, būsi sutvirtintas ir pašalinsi nedorybę iš savo palapinių,
24 tada krausi auksą kaip dulkes, Ofyro auksą kaip upelių akmenis.
25 Visagalis bus tau apsauga ir tu turėsi gausybę sidabro.
26 Tada gėrėsies Visagaliu ir pakelsi savo akis į Dievą.
27 Kai tu melsi Jį, Jis tave išklausys, ir tu ištesėsi savo įžadus.
28 Tu nuspręsi, ir bus tau, šviesa švies tau kelyje.
29 Kai žmogus pažemintas, tu sakysi: ‘Yra išaukštinimas’, ir Jis išgelbės nuolankų žmogų.
30 Jis išgelbės ir kaltą; jis bus išgelbėtas dėl tavo rankų švarumo".