Job 22

Job · Chapter 22

Job 22:2

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,2Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?4Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?5Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?6For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.7Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.8But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.9Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.10Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;11Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.12Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!13And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?14Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.15Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?16Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:17Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?18Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.19The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.20Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.21Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.22Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.23If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.24Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.25Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.26For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.27Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.28Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.29When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.30He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
2Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?“Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?Can a man be profitable unto God? Surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
¿ to Godהַלְאֵ֥לhal-'ELH0410G
God

אֵל (el) This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

will he be of useיִסְכָּן־yis-kon-H5532
be useful

סָכַן (sa.khan) 1) to be of use or service or profit or benefit 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be of use or service 1a2) servitor, steward (participle) 1a3) to benefit, profit 1b) (Hiphil) to be used, be wont, exhibit use or habit, show harmony with, be familiar with, know intimately

a manגָּ֑בֶרGA-verH1397
great man

גָּבֶר (ga.ver) man, strong man, warrior (emphasising strength or ability to fight)

forכִּֽי־ki-H3588A
for

כִּי (ki) 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

will he be of use?יִסְכֹּ֖ןyis-KONH5532
be useful

סָכַן (sa.khan) 1) to be of use or service or profit or benefit 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be of use or service 1a2) servitor, steward (participle) 1a3) to benefit, profit 1b) (Hiphil) to be used, be wont, exhibit use or habit, show harmony with, be familiar with, know intimately

on himעָלֵ֣ימוֹ'a-LEI-movH5921A
upon

עַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) …

a wise [person]מַשְׂכִּֽיל׃mas-KILH7919A
be prudent

שָׂכַל (sa.khal) 1) to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper 1a) (Qal) to be prudent, be circumspect 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to look at or upon, have insight 1b2) to give attention to, consider, ponder, be prudent 1b3) to have insight, have comprehension 1b3a) insight, comprehension (subst) 1b4) to cause to consider, give insight, teach 1b4a) the teachers, the wise 1b5) to act circumspectly, act prudently, act wisely 1b6) to prosper, have success 1b7) to cause to prosper Aramaic equivalent: se.khal (שְׂכַל "to contemplate" H7920)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.