Then Elifaz the Temanite answered and said,

Then Elifaz the Temanite raised his voice and said:

Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he that is wise is profitable to himself!

Does a man benefit G d when he teaches wisdom concerning them [(men)]?

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

Does the Almighty need your vindication [(in dispute with Him)]? Does He profit in the perfection of your ways?

will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?

Is it from fear of you that He should debate you, that He should enter into judgment with you?

Is not thy wickedness great? and thy iniquities infinite?

Does He not [know that] your evil is great, that there is no end to your sins?

For thou hast taken pledges from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

For you have demanded security of your brothers — for nought — and you have stripped the naked of their clothing [i.e., you have taken their only garment so that they are naked].

Thou has not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withheld bread from the hungry.

You did not give water to the weary, and you withheld bread from the hungry.

But like the mighty man, who has the earth; and the honourable man who dwells in it,

Should a [(once)] mighty man [(i.e., you)] inherit the earth? Should a [(former)] dignitary endure in it?

thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

You drove out widows empty-handed and you [(thus)] crushed the arms of the orphans.

Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubles thee;

That is why there are traps around you and sudden fear confounds you.

or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.

Or [would you think that your deeds were done] in darkness [(and not observed by G d)]? Do not see [it so]! Or [would you think that] an abundance of water [(in the heavens)] conceals you?

Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

[Would you say:] "Is not G d in the heights of the heavens, viewing the tops of the stars in their height?"

And thou sayst, What does God know? does he judge through the dark cloud?

wherefore you say: "What can G d know [of what transpires below]?

Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he sees not; and he walks in the circuit of heaven.

"Do the clouds not hide things from Him and keep Him from seeing? Does He not walk upon the arc of the heavens?"

Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

Do you remember the way of yore trodden by men of iniquity,

who were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

who were cut off [from the world] before their time, a flood [(that of Noach or the fire and brimstone of Sodom)] inundating their foundations,

who said to God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?

who said of G d: "He has removed Himself from us," and [(who questioned)] what the Almighty could do to them?

Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

— when He had filled their houses with good! — But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn, saying,

Let the righteous see [the downfall of the wicked] and rejoice, and let the clean one mock them.

Surely our adversaries are cut off, and the remnant of them the fire consumes.

[(reversion to verse 15)] Was its [(that generation's)] height not cut off and their pride consumed in fire?

Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come to thee.

Learn, then, [to be wholehearted] with Him, and you will be at peace. Through them [(these things)] good will come to you.

Receive, I pray thee, Tora from his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart.

Take, now, Torah from His mouth, and place His words in your heart.

If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tent.

When you return to the Almighty you will be rebuilt — but remove iniquity from your tents.

And thou shalt hold gold as dust, and the gold of Ofir as the stones of the brooks.

And you will store up [wealth] upon the earth, and in the valley-rock [the gold of] Ophir.

Yea, the Almighty shall be thy gold, and precious silver to thee.

And your stored-up wealth will be great, and hoards of silver will be yours.

For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up thy face to God.

Then you will find pleasure in the Almighty and you will lift your face [(without shame) in supplication] to the L rd.

Thou shalt make thy prayer to him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

You will pray to Him and He will hear you, and you will pay your vows [(i.e., your offerings in fulfillment of your vows will be acceptable to Him.)]

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

And you will make a resolution and it will avail you, and on your ways light will shine.

When men have humbled thee, and thou sayst, There is lifting up, then he shall save the humble person.

If they [(the men of your generation)] are lowly, by your word [they will be] upraised, and one whose eyes are lowered [in suffering for his sin], He will save [by your intercession].

He delivers the innocent man: and thou shalt be delivered by the pureness of thy hands.

He will deliver him who is unclean, and he will be saved, through the cleanliness of your hands.