the Second Week after Easter
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Contemporary English Version
Job 22:2
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Can a man be of any use to God?Can even a wise man be of use to him?
"Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
"Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
"Can anyone be of real use to God? Can even a wise person do him good?
"Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit? Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable?
"Can a vigorous man be of use to God, Or a wise man be useful to himself?
"Can a strong man be of use to God, Or a wise one be useful to himself?
"Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
May a man be profitable vnto God, as he that is wise, may be profitable to himselfe?
"Can a mighty man be of use to God,Or an insightful man be useful to himself?
"Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
"Can a human be of advantage to God? Can even the wisest benefit him?
Can a man be profitable to God? surely it is unto himself that the wise man is profitable.
"Does God need our help? Even the wisest of us is not really useful to him.
O man, can you converse with God; are you equal with him in wisdom?
"Can a man be of use to God? Yes, can the wise be of use to him?
Can a man be useful to God? For can a wise man be useful to himself?
Maye a man be copared vnto God in wy?dome, though he seme to himself, for to be like him?
Can a man be profitable unto God? Surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself.
Is it possible for a man to be of profit to God? No, for a man's wisdom is only of profit to himself.
Can a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him?
Can a man be profitable vnto God? as hee that is wise may be profitable vnto himselfe.
May a man be profitable vnto God, as he that is wise may be profitable vnto him selfe?
Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge?
Can a man be profitable unto God? surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself.
Whether a man, yhe, whanne he is of perfit kunnyng, mai be comparisound to God?
Can a [noble] man be profitable to God? Surely he that is wise is profitable to himself.
Can a man be profitable to God, as he that is wise may be profitable to himself?
"Can a man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?
"Can a person do anything to help God? Can even a wise person be helpful to him?
"Can a man be of use to God? Can a wise man be of use to himself?
"Can a mortal be of use to God? Can even the wisest be of service to him?
Unto GOD, can a man act as friend? Surely a discreet man befriendeth himself!
Can man be compared with God, even though he were of perfect knowledge?
"Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
To God is a man profitable, Because a wise man to himself is profitable?
"Can a vigorous man be of use to God, Or a wise man be useful to himself?
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
a man: Job 35:6-8, Psalms 16:2, Luke 17:10
as he that: etc. or, if he may be profitable, doth his good success depend thereon, Job 21:15, Deuteronomy 10:13, Proverbs 3:13-18, Proverbs 4:7-9, Proverbs 9:12, Ecclesiastes 7:11, Ecclesiastes 7:12, Matthew 5:29, Galatians 6:7, Galatians 6:8
Reciprocal: Job 5:27 - for thy good Job 35:7 - General Job 41:11 - Who Mark 8:36 - profit Acts 17:25 - is 1 Corinthians 2:16 - who 1 Timothy 4:8 - godliness Titus 3:8 - good
Cross-References
But God answered: No! You and Sarah will have a son. His name will be Isaac, and I will make an everlasting promise to him and his descendants.
But God said, "Abraham, don't worry about your slave woman and the boy. Just do what Sarah tells you. Isaac will inherit your family name,
when they reached the place that God had told him about, Abraham built an altar and placed the wood on it. Next, he tied up his son and put him on the wood.
He then took the knife and got ready to kill his son.
"Don't hurt the boy or harm him in any way!" the angel said. "Now I know that you truly obey God, because you were willing to offer him your only son."
You were willing to offer the Lord your only son, and so he makes you this solemn promise,
and come home safely, I will sacrifice to you whoever comes out to meet me first."
Then she went back to her father. He did what he had promised, and she never got married. That's why
He then grabbed his oldest son who was to be the next king and sacrificed him as an offering on the city wall. The Israelite troops were so horrified that they left the city and went back home.
Solomon's workers began building the temple in Jerusalem on the second day of the second month, four years after Solomon had become king of Israel. It was built on Mount Moriah where the Lord had appeared to David at the threshing place that had belonged to Araunah from Jebus.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Can a man be profitable unto God?.... Eliphaz imagined that Job thought so, by his insisting so much on his integrity, and complaining of his afflictions; and that God was beholden to him for his holiness and righteousness, and that instead of afflicting him, should have heaped honours and happiness upon him; whereas there is not anything a man can do, or does, by which God can be profiled; which is a very great truth, though misapplied to Job through a wrong construction of his words and meaning. No man, even the best of men, and by the best things they can do, can be profitable to God; as for bad men, they are altogether unprofitable to themselves and to others, and still less profitable to God; and as for good men, their "goodness extendeth not" to the Lord, Psalms 16:2; it comes from him, it is his own previously; it is of no avail and advantage to him, who is perfect and all sufficient; when they have done all that they are commanded, they are bid to say, and very truly, "we are unprofitable servants",
Luke 17:10; they do indeed glorify God, and are the means of others glorifying him by their good works; but then they add no glory to him, which he had not before; they only declare the glory of God by the light of their grace and works, as the heavens and luminaries in them do by their light and lustre; they worship God as they ought to do; but then he is not worshipped by them "as though he needed anything" of them, Acts 17:25; it is they, and not he, that get by worship; it is good for them, and they find their account in it, to draw near to him, and wait upon him, and worship him; what are all their prayers and praises to him? the benefit redounds to themselves: some men are very serviceable to promote the interest of religion, either by their purses, or by their gifts and talents, fitting for public usefulness; but then, what do they give to God but what is his own? "of thine own have we given thee", says David, 1 Chronicles 29:14; or what do they do for him? it is for the good of themselves, and others, Romans 11:35. Some are useful in the conversion of men to God, either by the public ministry of the word, or in private life by discourse and conversation; but then the profit of all this is to men, and not unto God; there is nothing that a man can do, by which he can make God his debtor, or lay him under an obligation to him, which he would, if he could be profitable to him; but whatever he does, it is but his duty, and what God has a prior right unto; and therefore men can merit nothing at the hand of God, no, not the least mercy; it is by the grace of God a good man is what he is, and does what he does; the Targum paraphrases it, "can a man teach God?" and so Mr. Broughton; see Job 21:22;
as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? or "though", or "indeed, truly he that is wise", c. h. A man that is worldly wise is profitable to himself and his family, by gathering wealth and riches and a man that is wise, and has a large understanding of natural things, may be profitable to himself by enriching his mind with knowledge, increasing the pleasure of it, and getting credit and fame among men by it, and may be profitable to others by communicating his knowledge to them, see Proverbs 9:12; and one that is spiritually wise, or has the true grace of God, and wisdom in the hidden part, which is no other than real godliness, gets great gain; for godliness is that to him, and is profitable for all things, having the promise of the present and future life; and he that has an interest in Christ, the Wisdom of God, is a happy man indeed, since he has that, the merchandise of which is better than silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold; one that is wise unto salvation, and is a wise professor of religion, and walks wisely and circumspectly, has great advantages; he builds his salvation on the rock Christ, and is safe and sure; he is concerned to have the oil of grace, with the lamp of a profession, and so is always ready to meet the bridegroom; and being careful of his conversation, keeps his garments that his shame is not seen; and so a wise minister of the word, "[one that] instructs" i, or gives instructions to others, as the word here signifies; or one that causes to understand, or is the means of causing men to understand, such a man is profitable to himself and to others, see Daniel 12:3.
h כי "immo", Beza; "profecto", Schultens. i משכיל.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Can a man be profitable unto God? - Can a man confer any favor on God, so as to lay him under obligation? Eliphaz supposes that Job sets up a “claim” to the favor of God, because he was of service to him, or because God had something to fear if he was cut off. He maintains, therefore, that a man can confer no favor on God, so as to lay him under obligation. God is independent and supreme. He has nothing to gain if man is righteous - he has nothing to apprehend if he is punished. He is not dependent at all on man.
As he that is wise - Margin, or, “if he may be profitable, doth his goodness depend thereon.” The meaning of the passage is, a wise man may promote his own advantage, but he cannot be of advantage to God. All the result of his wisdom must terminate on himself, and not on God; compare Psalms 16:2. Of the correctness of this sentiment there can be no doubt. It accords with reason, and with all that is said in the Scriptures. God is too great to be benefited by man. He is infinite in all his perfections; he is the original fountain of blessedness; he is supremely wise; he has all resources in himself, and he cannot be dependent on his creatures. He cannot, therefore, be deterred from punishing them by any dread which he has of losing their favor - he cannot be induced to bless them because they have laid him under obligation. Eliphaz meant this as a reply to what Job had said. He had maintained, that God did “not” treat people according to their character in this life, but that, in fact, the wicked were often prospered, and suffered to live long. Eliphaz at once “infers,” that if this were so, it must be because they could render themselves “serviceable” to God, or because he must have something to dread by punishing them. In the general sentiment, he was right; in the “inference” he was wrong - since Job had not affirmed that they are spared from any such cause, and since many other “reasons” may be assigned.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Job 22:2. Can a man be profitable unto God — God does not afflict thee because thou hast deprived him of any excellency. A man may be profitable to a man, but no man can profit his Maker. He has no interest in thy conduct; he does not punish thee because thou hast offended and deprived him of some good. Thy iniquities are against justice, and justice requires thy punishment.
