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Eliphaz Speaks: Job’s Wickedness Is Great

22Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
² ‘Can a mortal be of use to God?
   Can even the wisest be of service to him?
³ Is it any pleasure to the Almighty^* if you are righteous,
   or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?
⁴ Is it for your piety that he reproves you,
   and enters into judgement with you?
²¹ ‘Agree with God,^* and be at peace;
   in this way good will come to you.
²² Receive instruction from his mouth,
   and lay up his words in your heart.
²³ If you return to the Almighty,^* you will be restored,
   if you remove unrighteousness from your tents,
²⁴ if you treat gold like dust,
   and gold of Ophir like the stones of the torrent-bed,
²⁵ and if the Almighty^* is your gold
   and your precious silver,
²⁶ then you will delight in the Almighty,^*
   and lift up your face to God.
²⁷ You will pray to him, and he will hear you,
   and you will pay your vows.
²⁸ You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you,
   and light will shine on your ways.
²⁹ When others are humiliated, you say it is pride;
   for he saves the humble.
³⁰ He will deliver even those who are guilty;
   they will escape because of the cleanness of your hands.’^*

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Bitter

23Then Job answered:
² ‘Today also my complaint is bitter;^*
   his^* hand is heavy despite my groaning.
³ O that I knew where I might find him,
   that I might come even to his dwelling!
⁴ I would lay my case before him,
   and fill my mouth with arguments.
⁵ I would learn what he would answer me,
   and understand what he would say to me.
⁶ Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
   No; but he would give heed to me.
⁷ There an upright person could reason with him,
   and I should be acquitted for ever by my judge.

Bildad Speaks: How Can a Mortal Be Righteous Before God?

25Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:
² ‘Dominion and fear are with God;^*
   he makes peace in his high heaven.
³ Is there any number to his armies?
   Upon whom does his light not arise?
⁴ How then can a mortal be righteous before God?
   How can one born of woman be pure?
⁵ If even the moon is not bright
   and the stars are not pure in his sight,
⁶ how much less a mortal, who is a maggot,
   and a human being, who is a worm!’