Job 15
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
But Eliphaz the Themanite, answering, said:
2 “Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?
Will a wise man answer as if he were speaking wind, and will he fill his stomach with fire?
3 Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?
You rebuke with words he who is not equal to you, and you speak what is not expedient for you,
4 But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him.
to such an extent that, within yourself, you have expelled reverence and have taken away prayers from the presence of God.
5 For your iniquity instructs your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.
For your iniquity has mislead your mouth, and you imitate the tongue of blasphemers.
6 Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you; your own lips testify against you.
Your own mouth will condemn you, not I; and your own lips will answer you.
7 Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
Are you the first man who was born, or were you formed before the hills?
8 Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?
Have you heard the intentions of God, and will his wisdom be inferior to you?
9 What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us?
What do you know, about which we are ignorant? What do you understand that we do not know?
10 Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side— men much older than your father.
There are with us both aged and ancient men, even more senior than your fathers.
11 Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?
Is it so important that God should console you? But your own depraved words prevent this.
12 Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,
Why does your heart exalt you, and why do you gaze with your eyes, as if thinking great things?
13 as you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth?
Why does your spirit stir against God, so as to utter such speeches from your mouth?
14 What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
What is man that he should be immaculate, and that he should appear just, having been born of woman?
15 If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,
Behold, among his holy ones not one is immutable, and even the heavens are not pure in his sight.
16 how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?
How much more abominable and useless is the man who drinks as if from the water of iniquity?
17 Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,
I will reveal to you, so listen to me; and I will explain to you what I have seen.
18 what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers,
The wise acknowledge, and they do not leave behind, their fathers,
19 to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them.
to whom alone the earth has been given, and no stranger passed among them.
20 A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
The impious is arrogant for all his days, and the number of the years of his tyranny is uncertain.
21 Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.
The sound of terror is always in his ears; and when there is peace, he always suspects treason.
22 He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword.
He does not believe that it is possible for him to be turned from darkness into the light, for he sees around him the sword on every side.
23 He wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
When he moves himself to seek bread, he knows that the day of darkness has been prepared for his hand.
24 Distress and anguish terrify him, overwhelming him like a king poised to attack.
Tribulation will terrify him, and anguish will prevail over him, like a king who is being prepared to go to battle.
25 For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,
For he has extended his hand against God, and he has strengthened himself against the Almighty.
26 rushing headlong at Him with a thick, studded shield.
He has rushed against him with his throat exposed, and he has been armed with a fat neck.
27 Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh,
Thickness has covered his face, and lard hangs down from his sides.
28 he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become rubble.
He has lived in desolate cities and deserted houses, which have been turned into tombs.
29 He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land.
He will not be enriched, nor will his basic necessities endure, nor will he establish his root in the earth.
30 He will not escape from the darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.
He will not withdraw from the darkness; the flame will burn up his branches, and he will be defeated by the breath of his own mouth.
31 Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.
He will not believe, being vainly deceived by error, that he could be redeemed at any price.
32 It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish.
Before his time is completed, he will pass into ruin and his hands will wither away.
33 He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms.
He will be wounded like a grapevine, when its cluster is in first flower, and like an olive tree that casts off its flower.
34 For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery.
For the congregation of the hypocrites is fruitless, and fire will devour the tabernacles of those who love to accept money.
35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”
He has conceived sorrow, and he has brought forth iniquity, and his womb prepares deceit.
