Job 22  Contemporary English Version

22 Eliphaz from Teman^[a] said:
^2 (A) What use are we humans
    to God,
    even the wisest of us?
³ If you were completely sinless,
that would still mean nothing
    to God All-Powerful.
⁴ Is he correcting you
    for worshiping him?
⁵ No! It's because of
    your terrible and endless sins.
⁶ To guarantee payment of a debt,
you have taken clothes
    from innocent people.
⁷ And you refused bread and water
    to the hungry and thirsty,
⁸ although you were rich,
    respected, and powerful.
⁹ You have turned away widows
and have broken the arms
    of orphans.
¹⁰ That's why you were suddenly
    trapped by terror,
¹¹ blinded by darkness,
    and drowned in a flood.

¹² God lives in the heavens
above the highest stars,
    where he sees everything.
¹³ Do you think the deep darkness
    hides you from God?
¹⁴ Do thick clouds cover his eyes,
as he walks around heaven's dome
    high above the earth?
¹⁵ Give up those ancient ideas
    believed by sinners,
¹⁶ who were swept away
    without warning.
¹⁷ They rejected God All-Powerful,
    feeling he was helpless,
¹⁸ although he had been kind
    to their families.
The beliefs of these sinners
    are truly disgusting.
¹⁹ When God's people see
the godless swept away,
they celebrate, ²⁰     saying,
“Our enemies are gone,
and fire has destroyed
    their possessions.”

²¹ Surrender to God All-Powerful!
You will find peace
    and prosperity.
²² Listen to his teachings
    and take them to heart.
²³ If you return to God
and turn from sin,
    all will go well for you.
²⁴ So get rid of your finest gold,
    as though it were sand.
²⁵ Let God All-Powerful
    be your silver and gold,
²⁶ and you will find happiness
    by worshiping him.
²⁷ God will answer your prayers,
and you will keep the promises
    you made to him.
²⁸ He will do whatever you ask,
    and life will be bright.
²⁹ When others are disgraced,
God will clear their names
    in answer to your prayers.
³⁰ Even those who are guilty
will be forgiven,
    because you obey God.^[b]