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22:1  Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded:
22:2  “Can anyone be of the slightest interest to God, even if that person is recognized for his wisdom?
22:3  Does the Almighty derive any pleasure if you are righteous? Does he profit if you lead a blameless life?
22:4  Is he punishing you for your piety and therefore will bring you to justice?
22:5  Is not your wickedness great? Is there any limit to your iniquities?
22:6  “You have exacted pledges from your brothers as security and left them naked, stripped of their clothing.
22:7  To the thirsty you offered no water to drink, and you withheld bread from those who were starving.
22:8  Should the land belong only to the powerful? Are only those who are favored allowed to dwell in it?
22:9  “You have sent widows away empty-handed and left orphans without any means of support.
22:10  That is why snares surround you and sudden terror causes you to cringe,
22:11  why light has turned to darkness, leaving you unable to see, and flood waters envelop you.
22:12  “Does not God who dwells in the heights of the heavens behold how lofty are the highest stars?
22:13  Even so, you say, ‘What does God know? How can he possibly judge through such deep darkness?
22:14  He cannot possibly see through the thick clouds as he roams through the vault of the heavens.’
22:15  “Will you still continue to follow the ancient way that those who are wicked have trod?
22:16  They were snatched away before their time; their foundations were swept away by a flood.
22:17  They had said to God, ‘Leave us alone!’ and thought, ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’
22:18  “Yet it was he who filled their houses with good things, even though his plans and theirs were diametrically opposed.
22:19  The upright rejoice at witnessing such a spectacle, and the innocent deride them:
22:20  ‘See how our enemies have been destroyed, and what remained of their wealth has been consumed by fire.’
22:21  “Come to terms with God and be reconciled. In this way good fortune will come to you.
22:22  Accept the instruction from his lips and keep his words in your heart.
22:23  If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; if you remove iniquity from your tent
22:24  and treat gold as if it were only dust and the gold of Ophir as pebbles from the stream,
22:25  then the Almighty himself will be your gold and your precious silver.
22:26  “For then the Almighty will be your delight and you will lift up your face to God.
22:27  You will pray to him and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
22:28  Whatever decision you make will be successful, and light will shine along your path.
22:29  For God brings low the arrogant while he saves the humble.
22:30  He delivers anyone who is innocent; if your hands are clean, you will be saved.”