Job
Chapter 22
THIRD ROUND OF SPEECHES
Eliphaz’s Third Speech
Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
Can we truly be of any help to God? Only a wise man benefits himself.
What would the Almighty gain if you were upright? What advantage would there be if you were blameless in your ways?
Is it because of your piety that he rebukes you and brings you to judgment?
Is it not because of your great wickedness, for there is no end to your sins?
Without any need, you kept your kinsmen’s goods and stripped them of their clothing.
You denied water to the thirsty and withheld bread from the hungry.
The powerful control the land and distribute it to their friends.
You have sent widows away empty-handed and broken the arms of orphans.
No wonder snares are all around you, and sudden terror causes you to fear.
You are blinded by darkness and overwhelmed by floods.
Is not God above the heavens? See how lofty are the highest stars.
Yet you say, “What does God know? Can he see through deep shadows?
He cannot see for thick clouds veil him as he walks upon the vault of the heavens.”
Will you stick to the old path that the wicked have walked?
In a moment they were swept away, and their foundation was washed out.
They said to God, “Away from us! What can the Almighty do to us?”
He had filled their houses with good things, but the thoughts of the wicked were far from him.
The righteous see their downfall and rejoice, the innocent laugh at them and say,
‘Now the great have come to nothing, fire has devoured their’ heritage.”
Come to terms with God and find peace; in this way, you will prosper.
Listen to his teachings and keep his words in your heart.
If you humbly return to the Almighty and remove injustice from your life,
then you will see gold as nothing, and Ophir’s gold as pebbles from a stream.
For the Almighty will be your gold and your most shining silver.
Then you will find joy in the Almighty and lift your face toward God.
You will pray to him, and he will answer, and you will keep your promises.
You will succeed in your plans, and light will guide your path.
For God opposes the proud and lifts up the humble.
He who rescues the innocent will rescue you, too, if your hands are clean.
Commentaries
Third Round of Speeches.
This round of speeches comes across as disorganized and confusing. Eliphaz speaks, and Job responds. Bildad’s speech, which is only five verses long, is clearly cut short; Zophar remains silent. Additionally, some of what Job says seems more fitting coming from his friends. Experts continue to work towards a coherent conclusion. Still, it seems as if Job and his friends are all shouting at once, which might be the fitting end to a “dialogue” of the deaf about the cosmic and moral order.
Eliphaz’s Third Speech.
Eliphaz responds to Job’s rebuttal and accuses him of a series of serious sins (6-11), specifically those that the powerful often commit against the weak and vulnerable (8). He urges Job to reconcile with God (21-30). If he repents, he will once again enjoy God’s care and guidance (28), and with that, he concludes his speech. Eliphaz presents a somber picture of how a “religious person” can fall into degeneration when he confuses his feeble attempts to understand God with divine revelation itself.