Job 22
Job 22 is part of “Third Cycle of Dialogue” (22–31) in the outline of Job.
Job 22 summary
Eliphaz here leads on a third attack upon poor Job, in which Bildad followed him, but Zophar drew back, and quitted the field. It was one of the unhappinesses of Job, as it is of many an honest man, to be misunderstood by his friends. He had spoken of the prosperity of wicked men in this world as a mystery of Providence, but they took it for a reflection upon Providence, as countenancing their wickedness; and they reproached him accordingly. In this chapter, I.
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Eliphaz here leads on a third attack upon poor Job, in which Bildad followed him, but Zophar drew back, and quitted the field. It was one of the unhappinesses of Job, as it is of many an honest man, to be misunderstood by his friends. He had spoken of the prosperity of wicked men in this world as a mystery of Providence, but they took it for a reflection upon Providence, as countenancing their wickedness; and they reproached him accordingly. In this chapter, I. Eliphaz checks him for his complaints of God, and of his dealings with him, as if he thought God had done him wrong (Job 22:2-4). II. He charges him with many high crimes and misdemeanours, for which he supposes God was now punishing him. 1. Oppression and injustice (Job 22:5-11). 2. Atheism and infidelity (Job 22:12-14). III. He compares his case to that of the old world (Job 22:15-20). IV. He gives him very good counsel, assuring him that, if he would take it, God would return in mercy to him and he should return to his former prosperity (Job 22:21-30).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Job 22 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Eliphaz's Third Speech: Can a Man Be of Use to God?
1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, and sayde, 2May a man be profitable vnto God, as he that is wise, may be profitable to himselfe? 3Is it any thing vnto the Almightie, that thou art righteous? or is it profitable to him, that thou makest thy wayes vpright? 4Is it for feare of thee that he will accuse thee? or go with thee into iudgement? 5Is not thy wickednes great, and thine iniquities innumerable? 6For thou hast taken the pledge from thy brother for nought, and spoyled the clothes of the naked. 7To such as were wearie, thou hast not giuen water to drinke, and hast withdrawen bread from the hungrie. 8But the mightie man had the earth, and he that was in autoritie, dwelt in it. 9Thou hast cast out widowes emptie, and the armes of the fatherles were broken. 10Therefore snares are round about thee, and feare shall suddenly trouble thee: 11Or darkenes that thou shouldest not see, and abundance of waters shall couer thee. 12Is not God on hie in the heauen? and behold the height of the starres how hie they are. 13But thou sayest, How should God know? can he iudge through the darke cloude? 14The cloudes hide him that he can not see, and he walketh in the circle of heauen. 15Hast thou marked the way of the worlde, wherein wicked men haue walked? 16Which were cut downe before the time, whose foundation was as a riuer that ouerflowed: 17Which sayd vnto God, Depart from vs, and asked what the Almightie could do for them. 18Yet hee filled their houses with good things: but let the counsell of the wicked be farre from me. 19The righteous shall see them, and shall reioyce, and the innocent shall laugh them to scorne. 20Surely our substance is hid: but the fire hath deuoured the remnant of them. 21Therefore acquaint thy selfe, I pray thee, with him, and make peace: thereby thou shalt haue prosperitie. 22Receiue, I pray thee, the law of his mouth, and lay vp his words in thine heart. 23If thou returne to the Almightie, thou shalt be buylt vp, and thou shalt put iniquitie farre from thy tabernacle. 24Thou shalt lay vp golde for dust, and the gold of Ophir, as the flintes of the riuers. 25Yea, the Almightie shalbe thy defence, and thou shalt haue plentie of siluer. 26And thou shalt then delite in the Almightie, and lift vp thy face vnto God. 27Thou shalt make thy praier vnto him, and he shall heare thee, and thou shalt render thy vowes. 28Thou shalt also decree a thing, and he shall establish it vnto thee, and the light shall shine vpon thy wayes. 29When others are cast downe, then shalt thou say, I am lifted vp: and God shall saue the humble person. 30The innocent shall deliuer the yland, and it shalbe preserued by the purenes of thine hands.