Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
Parallel translations
- WEB Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him, that you make your ways perfect?
- BSB Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?
- NKJV Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless?
- NASB “Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, Or gain if you make your ways blameless?
- NLT Is it any advantage to the Almighty if you are righteous? Would it be any gain to him if you were perfect?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Eliphaz suggests God gains no pleasure or profit from Job's righteousness, so Job's claim to integrity is pointless. He minimizes the value of human goodness to God.
Overview
Eliphaz presses his argument that God is indifferent to whether Job is righteous. Yet the larger witness of Scripture corrects him: God does take pleasure in the righteous (Ps 147:11) and the very point of the book is that God is pleased to defend His servant Job. Eliphaz's theology of God's detachment is precisely what the conclusion of Job overturns.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 2 Cor 7:1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- Prov 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
- Ps 147:10–11He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
- Prov 12:22Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
- Prov 11:1A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
- Prov 11:20They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
- 1 Chr 29:17I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
- Mal 2:17Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
- Ps 39:1I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
- Job 23:10–12But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
- Ps 119:59I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
- Ps 119:3–6They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
- Acts 24:16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
- Phil 4:18But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 22:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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