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1. Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
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1.
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2. "Can a man be of use to God? Can a wise man be of use to himself?
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2.
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3. Is the All-powerful pleased if you are right and good? Is it of any use to Him if your ways were perfect?
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3.
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4. Is it because of how you honor God that He speaks strong words to you and punishes you?
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4.
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5. Have you not done much wrong and your sins have no end?
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5.
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6. For you have taken things from your brothers when they did not owe you anything. You have taken all their clothing and they have had nothing to wear.
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6.
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7. To those who were tired, you have given no water to drink. And you have kept bread from the hungry.
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7.
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8. But you were a powerful and respected man owning land and living on it.
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8.
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9. You have sent women away with nothing, whose husbands have died. And you have crushed the strength of children who have no parents.
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9.
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10. So traps are all around you, and much fear comes upon you all at once.
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10.
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11. This is why it is dark and you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
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11.
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12. "Is not God high up in heaven? See the highest stars, how high they are!
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12.
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13. So you say, 'What does God know? Can He judge through the darkness?
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13.
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14. Clouds cover Him so that He cannot see. He walks on the roof of heaven.'
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14.
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15. Will you keep to the old way which sinful men have walked?
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15.
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16. They were taken away before their time. The ground they stood on was washed away by a river.
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16.
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17. They said to God, 'Leave us!' and 'What can the All-powerful do to us?'
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17.
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18. Yet He filled their houses with good things. But the wisdom of the sinful is far from me.
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18.
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19. Those who are right and good see it and are glad. Those who are without guilt make fun of them,
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19.
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20. saying, 'For sure those who hate us are destroyed, and fire has destroyed what they owned.'
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20.
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21. "Agree with God, and be at peace with Him. Then good will come to you.
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21.
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22. Receive the teaching from His mouth, and keep His words in your heart.
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22.
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23. If you return to the Allpowerful, things will be well with you again. Put sin far from your tent.
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23.
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24. Put your gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the river.
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24.
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25. Then the All-powerful will be your gold and silver of much worth.
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25.
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26. Then you will have joy in the Allpowerful, and lift up your face to God.
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26.
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27. You will pray to Him, and He will hear you. And you will keep your promises to Him.
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27.
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28. You will decide something, and it will be done for you. Light will shine on your path.
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28.
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29. For God puts down the man who is filled with pride. But He saves the one who is not proud.
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29.
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30. He will save the man who is even guilty because he will be helped by your hands that are clean."
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30.
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