22:2 Can a man be profitable to God? Can a wise man be profitable to him?
22:3 Does it please the Almighty that you are just? Does he gain if your ways are perfect?
22:4 Is it because of your piety that he reproves you— that he enters into judgment with you?
22:5 Is not your wickedness great, your iniquity endless?
22:6 You keep your relatives’ goods in pledge unjustly, leave them stripped naked of their clothing.
22:7 To the thirsty you give no water to drink, and from the hungry you withhold bread;
22:8 As if the land belonged to the powerful, and only the privileged could dwell in it!
22:9 You sent widows away empty-handed, and the resources of orphans are destroyed.
22:10 Therefore snares are round about you, sudden terror makes you panic,
22:11 Or darkness—you cannot see! A deluge of waters covers you.
22:12 Does not God, in the heights of the heavens, behold the top of the stars, high though they are?
22:13 Yet you say, “What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?
22:14 Clouds hide him so that he cannot see as he walks around the circuit of the heavens!”
22:15 Do you indeed keep to the ancient way trodden by the worthless?
22:16 They were snatched before their time; their foundations a river swept away.
22:17 They said to God, “Let us alone!” and, “What can the Almighty do to us?”
22:18 Yet he had filled their houses with good things. The designs of the wicked are far from me!
22:19 The just look on and are glad, and the innocent deride them:
22:20 “Truly our enemies are destroyed, and what was left to them, fire has consumed!”
22:21 Settle with him and have peace. That way good shall come to you:
22:22 Receive instruction from his mouth, and place his words in your heart.
22:23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; if you put iniquity far from your tent,
22:24 And treat raw gold as dust, the fine gold of Ophir as pebbles in the wadi,
22:25 Then the Almighty himself shall be your gold and your sparkling silver.
22:26 For then you shall delight in the Almighty, you shall lift up your face toward God.
22:27 Entreat him and he will hear you, and your vows you shall fulfill.
22:28 What you decide shall succeed for you, and upon your ways light shall shine.
22:29 For when they are brought low, you will say, “It is pride!” But downcast eyes he saves.
22:30 He will deliver whoever is innocent; you shall be delivered if your hands are clean.
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