221 And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith:— 2 To God is a man profitable, Because a wise man to himself is profitable? 3 Is it a delight to the Mighty One That thou art righteous? is it gain, That thou makest perfect thy ways? 4 Because of thy reverence Doth He reason 'with' thee? He entereth with thee into judgment:
5 Is not thy wickedness abundant? And there is no end to thine iniquities. 6 For thou takest a pledge of thy brother for nought, And the garments of the naked Thou dost strip off. 7 Thou causest not the weary to drink water, And from the hungry thou withholdest bread. 8 As to the man of arm—he hath the earth, And the accepted of face—he dwelleth in it. 9 Widows thou hast sent away empty, And the arms of the fatherless are bruised. 10 Therefore round about thee 'are' snares, And trouble thee doth fear suddenly. 11 Or darkness—thou dost not see, And abundance of waters doth cover thee. 12 Is not God high 'in' heaven? And see the summit of the stars, That they are high. 13 And thou hast said, 'What—hath God known? Through thickness doth He judge? 14 Thick clouds 'are' a secret place to Him, And He doth not see;' And the circle of the heavens He walketh habitually,
15 The path of the age dost thou observe, That men of iniquity have trodden? 16 Who have been cut down unexpectedly, A flood is poured out on their foundation. 17 Those saying to God, 'Turn aside from us,' And what doth the Mighty One to them? 18 And he hath filled their houses 'with' good: (And the counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.) 19 See do the righteous and they rejoice, And the innocent mocketh at them, 20 'Surely our substance hath not been cut off, And their excellency hath fire consumed.'
21 Acquaint thyself, I pray thee, with Him, And be at peace, Thereby thine increase 'is' good. 22 Receive, I pray thee, from His mouth a law, And set His sayings in thy heart. 23 If thou dost return unto the Mighty Thou art built up, Thou puttest iniquity far from thy tents. 24 So as to set on the dust a defence, And on a rock of the valleys a covering. 25 And the Mighty hath been thy defence, And silver 'is' strength to thee. 26 For then on the Mighty thou delightest thyself, And dost lift up unto God thy face, 27 Thou dost make supplication unto Him, And He doth hear thee, And thy vows thou completest. 28 And thou decreest a saying, And it is established to thee, And on thy ways hath light shone. 29 For they have made low, And thou sayest, 'Lift up.' And the bowed down of eyes he saveth. 30 He delivereth the not innocent, Yea, he hath been delivered By the cleanness of thy hands.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 22:1-31
Commentary on Job 22:1-4
(Read Job 22:1-4)
Eliphaz considers that, because Job complained so much of his afflictions, he thought God was unjust in afflicting him; but Job was far from thinking so. What Eliphaz says, is unjustly applied to Job, but it is very true, that when God does us good it is not because he is indebted to us. Man's piety is no profit to God, no gain. The gains of religion to men are infinitely greater than the losses of it. God is a Sovereign, who gives no account of his conduct; but he is perfectly wise, just, faithful, good, and merciful. He approves the likeness of his own holiness, and delights in the fruits of his Spirit; he accepts the thankful services of the humble believer, while he rejects the proud claim of the self-confident.
Commentary on Job 22:5-14
(Read Job 22:5-14)
Eliphaz brought heavy charges against Job, without reason for his accusations, except that Job was visited as he supposed God always visited every wicked man. He charges him with oppression, and that he did harm with his wealth and power in the time of his prosperity.
Commentary on Job 22:15-20
(Read Job 22:15-20)
Eliphaz would have Job mark the old way that wicked men have trodden, and see what the end of their way was. It is good for us to mark it, that we may not walk therein. But if others are consumed, and we are not, instead of blaming them, and lifting up ourselves, as Eliphaz does here, we ought to be thankful to God, and take it for a warning.
Commentary on Job 22:21-30
(Read Job 22:21-30)
The answer of Eliphaz wrongly implied that Job had hitherto not known God, and that prosperity in this life would follow his sincere conversion. The counsel Eliphaz here gives is good, though, as to Job, it was built upon a false supposition that he was a stranger and enemy to God. Let us beware of slandering our brethren; and if it be our lot to suffer in this manner, let us remember how Job was treated; yea, how Jesus was reviled, that we may be patient. Let us examine whether there may not be some colour for the slander, and walk watchfully, so as to be clear of all appearances of evil.