Job Chapter 22
The question" Why do innocent people suffer?" Is addressed in this biblical story.
American King James Version
22 : 1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
22 : 2 Can a man be profitable to God, as he that is wise may be profitable to himself?
22 : 3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? or is it gain to him, that you make your ways perfect?
22 : 4 Will he reprove you for fear of you? will he enter with you into judgment?
22 : 5 Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities infinite?
22 : 6 For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
22 : 7 You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
22 : 8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honorable man dwelled in it.
22 : 9 You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
22 : 10 Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubles you;
22 : 11 Or darkness, that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you.
22 : 12 Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
22 : 13 And you say, How does God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?
22 : 14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he sees not; and he walks in the circuit of heaven.
22 : 15 Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
22 : 16 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood:
22 : 17 Which said to God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
22 : 18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
22 : 19 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
22 : 20 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumes.
22 : 21 Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come to you.
22 : 22 Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
22 : 23 If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tabernacles.
22 : 24 Then shall you lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
22 : 25 Yes, the Almighty shall be your defense, and you shall have plenty of silver.
22 : 26 For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face to God.
22 : 27 You shall make your prayer to him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows.
22 : 28 You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you: and the light shall shine on your ways.
22 : 29 When men are cast down, then you shall say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
22 : 30 He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of your hands.