King James Version

Job 22:2

Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

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Hebrew

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הַלְאֵ֥לhalelthe to idolאֵלparticle, interrogative, preposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the to idol”, the ordinary formH410strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)God (god), [idiom] goodly, [idiom] great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in '-el.'יִסְכָּןyiskanbe advantageסָכַןverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “be advantage”, an unfinished actionH5532to be familiar with; by implication, to minister to, be serviceable to, be customaryacquaint (self), be advantage, [idiom] ever, (be, (un-)) profit(-able), treasurer, be wont.גָּ֑בֶרgavermanגֶּבֶרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “man”, the ordinary formH1397properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a person simplyevery one, man, [idiom] mighty.כִּֽיkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…יִסְכֹּ֖ןyiskonbe advantageסָכַןverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “be advantage”, an unfinished actionH5532to be familiar with; by implication, to minister to, be serviceable to, be customaryacquaint (self), be advantage, [idiom] ever, (be, (un-)) profit(-able), treasurer, be wont.עָלֵ֣ימוֹaleymvoaboveעַלpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…מַשְׂכִּֽילmaskilconsiderשָׂכַלverb, hiphil, participle, absolute — “consider”, a verb used as a describing wordH7919to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligentconsider, expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent(-ly), (give) skill(-ful), have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand(-ing), wisdom, (be, behave self, consider, make) wise(-ly), guide wittingly.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Can a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him?

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The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Can a man be profitable unto God? Surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself.

Young’s Literal Translation

To God is a man profitable, Because a wise man to himself is profitable?

World English Bible

“Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.

Darby Translation

Can a man be profitable to God? surely it is unto himself that the wise man is profitable.

Douay-Rheims

Can man be compared with God, even though he were of perfect knowledge?

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Can a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him?

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge?

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Πότερον οὐχὶ ὁ Κύριός ἐστιν ὁ διδάσκων σύνεσιν καὶ ἐπιστήμην;