22:2 "Can a vigorous man be of use to God, Or a wise man be useful to himself?
22:3 "Is there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, Or profit if you make your ways perfect?
22:4 "Is it because of your reverence that He reproves you, That He enters into judgment against you?
22:5 "Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquities without end?
22:6 "For you have taken pledges of your brothers without cause, And stripped men naked.
22:7 "To the weary you have given no water to drink, And from the hungry you have withheld bread.
22:8 "But the earth belongs to the mighty man, And the honorable man dwells in it.
22:9 "You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the orphans has been crushed.
22:10 "Therefore snares surround you, And sudden dread terrifies you,
22:11 Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And an abundance of water covers you.
22:12 "Is not God in the height of heaven? Look also at the distant stars, how high they are!
22:13 "You say, 'What does God know? Can He judge through the thick darkness?
22:14 'Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see; And He walks on the vault of heaven.'
22:15 "Will you keep to the ancient path Which wicked men have trod,
22:16 Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were washed away by a river?
22:17 "They said to God, 'Depart from us!' And 'What can the Almighty do to them?'
22:18 "Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
22:19 "The righteous see and are glad, And the innocent mock them,
22:20 Saying, 'Truly our adversaries are cut off, And their abundance the fire has consumed.'
22:21 "Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you.
22:22 "Please receive instruction from His mouth And establish His words in your heart.
22:23 "If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent,
22:24 And place your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,
22:25 Then the Almighty will be your gold And choice silver to you.
22:26 "For then you will delight in the Almighty And lift up your face to God.
22:27 "You will pray to Him, and He will hear you; And you will pay your vows.
22:28 "You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.
22:29 "When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, And the humble person He will save.
22:30 "He will deliver one who is not innocent, And he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."
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