Job 22 · The Lantern

Eliphaz: Can a Man Be of Use to God?

And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

Can a man be of use to God? Surely the wise man is of use to himself.

Is it a delight to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or gain, that you make your ways blameless?

"What does it matter to the Lord, if you were blameless in your works?" That is, it has no importance for God. "Or does he gain any profit from the righteousness of your conduct?" It cannot be said that, in fact, it contributes to him any advantage, he says.

Is it any profit to the Almighty that thou art righteous? or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? For in all that we do well, we are doing good to ourselves and not to God. And hence by the Psalmist it is said, O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my God, seeing that Thou needest not my goods.

Second, someone is provoked to dispute or reason with another because of things which he received from him, so that a comparison of things given and things received may be made.

Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you, that he enters into judgment with you?

Is not your evil great, and is there no end to your iniquities?

For you have taken pledges from your brothers for nothing, and stripped the clothing from the naked.

You have given no water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

All these things are accusations, and certainly very reproachful ones. But they are not true with regard to Job and are unjustly pronounced against him. These things happen in times of hardship. Sometimes, when one has only a piece of bread, even though he does not have an entire loaf, we take it away from him by saying, "You are in debt."

Thou hast not given water to the weary, thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION It follows; Thou hast not given water to the weary, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

He continues then with the omission of the good works saying, "you did not give water to the weary." They needed drink because of the thirst which arises from the toil of the journey, as if to say: You did not bear help and solace to workers and the afflicted. "And you have taken bread from the hungry," saying in effect: You did not help the needy.

And the man of arm — the land is his; and the one whose face is lifted dwells in it.

You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of orphans are crushed.

Therefore snares are around you, and sudden dread dismays you,

Since [Eliphaz] had said that [Job] had sinned not mildly or, so to speak, with feeble strength but greatly and with much force, he now fervently invokes revenge against him, so that it may appear that the crime and the revenge are weighed for him at the same time.

Therefore snares are round about thee; and sudden fear troubleth thee. That man 'sudden fear doth trouble,' who neglects to consider what there is hanging over his head from the severity of the Judge, when He comes.

He then states that punishments have come upon him because of these faults, and so he says, "On that account you are surrounded with snares," for you are oppressed on all sides with adversities so that no place is open for you to escape after you have fallen into them.

or darkness, so that you cannot see; and a flood of waters covers you.

Is not God in the height of the heavens? And see the head of the stars, how high they are.

And you say, “What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

Clouds are a covering to him, and he does not see; and he walks about on the circle of the heavens.”

Will you keep to the ancient path that men of iniquity trod,

who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured away as a river?

They said to God, “Turn away from us,” and, “What can the Almighty do to us?” —

yet he filled their houses with good. And the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

The righteous see and rejoice, and the innocent mocks at them:

“Surely our adversary is effaced, and fire has consumed what was left of them.”

Be of use with him, please, and be at peace; by this your increase will be good.

Take instruction, please, from his mouth, and set his sayings in your heart.

If you return to the Almighty you will be built up; put injustice far from your tent.

This means that you will be restored to your former state. And God will be your helper while before it seemed that he had completely neglected the care of your salvation, as if he had been absent.

If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacle. That the faithful people have gone away from God is the opinion of heretics, because they see it opposed to their preachings; which same, when they see it afflicted with present calamities, they endeavour, as if by admonition, to draw to their Maker's Grace, saying, If…

He shows in what manner he will experience these "best of fruits" saying, "If you will return to the Almighty," to believe in his omnipotence and you submit yourself to him, "he will rebuild you," as if to say: The prosperity of your house which was destroyed will be restored.

And lay your gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the wadis;

and the Almighty will be your gold, and silver of heights to you.

For then you will take delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God.

You will entreat him, and he will hear you; and you will pay your vows.

And you will decree a word, and it will stand for you; and light will shine on your ways.

When they are brought low, and you say, “Lift up!” — then he will save the one whose eyes are downcast.

He will deliver even one who is not innocent; and he will be delivered by the cleanness of your hands.

Job22

Eliphaz: Can a Man Be of Use to God?