Chapter 22

Then answered Eliphaz the Themanite:

A man cannot hope to implead God, even a man of perfect wisdom.

Just though thou be, how is God the better for knowing thou art just? Can stainless life of thine advantage him?

Or dost thou think that fear of thee will persuade him to appear in court, and prove thee in the wrong?

Must he browbeat thee over a long record of guilt,2 over many heinous deeds done;

remind thee of the usurer’s pledge needlessly taken, of thy brother left to go naked while thou hadst his garment by thee,

of water grudged to thirsty men, bread refused to the hungry?

Must he tell the story of a rich tyrant that had lands and held to them;

of widows sent away without redress, orphans left without support, through thy means?

Must he say, that is why thou art caught in the snare, dismayed by sudden peril,

left benighted when thou thoughtest to see day, overwhelmed by the unexpected flood?

Bethink thee, God is high as heaven itself, reaches beyond the uttermost star.

Wouldst thou tell us that he has no knowledge of what passes, that he issues his decree blindly,

gives no heed to our mortal doings, there where he walks above heaven’s vault, all wrapped in cloud?

That were to follow old paths of error, trodden long ago by impious feet.

Snatched away before their time were the men that reasoned so; a flood engulfed the solid ground beneath them.

These, beyond doubt, were men who bade God keep his distance from them, thought the Omnipotent could give them no aid,

when he had filled their abode with blessings! Not for nothing do I shun their counsels!

Here was a sight to make the just triumphant, make innocent folk laugh aloud in scorn,

to see how their proud hopes vanished, and all that was left of them perished in the flames.

Fall in with the Lord’s ways, and be his friend; thou shalt be well rewarded.

Let his lips be thy oracle, his words written on thy heart.

Turn back to the Almighty for thy healing, and rid thy dwelling-place of guilt.

Firm rock thou shalt have for shifting dust, and for firm rock streams of gold;

the Almighty himself will be thy shield, and silver thou shalt never lack.

In those omnipotent arms thou shalt rest content, thy face upturned towards God himself,

thy prayer heard as soon as offered, thy vows paid as soon as due;

all thy desire thou shalt have, and all thy paths will be sunshine.

He that was once brought low shall be high in renown; the downcast eye shall win deliverance.

But the innocent shall be kept safe; in a pair of clean hands there was safety ever.