Job 15
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 “Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?
“Would a wise man answer with such empty ‘knowledge’ that is just a lot of hot air?
3 Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?
He wouldn't argue with unprofitable speeches using words that do no good.
4 But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him.
But you are doing away with the fear of God, and destroying communion with him.
5 For your iniquity instructs your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.
It's your sins that are doing the talking, and you are choosing deceptive words.
6 Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you; your own lips testify against you.
Your own mouth is condemning you, not me; your own lips are testifying against you.
7 Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
Were you the very first person to be born? Were you born before the hills were created?
8 Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?
Were you there listening in God's council? Does wisdom only belong 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 that we don't? What do you understand that we don't?
10 Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side— men much older than your father.
We have among us old, gray-haired people much older than your father!
11 Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?
Are the comforts God provides too little for you? Are God's gentle words not enough for you?
12 Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,
Why do you let yourself be carried away by your emotions?
13 as you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth?
Why do your eyes flash in anger that you turn against God and let yourself speak this way?
14 What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
Who can say they are clean? Which human being can say that they do what is right?
15 If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,
Look, God doesn't even trust his angels—even the heavenly beings are not pure in his sight!
16 how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?
How much less pure are those who are unclean and corrupt, drinking in sin like water!
17 Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,
If you are ready to listen to me, I will show you. I will explain my insights.
18 what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers,
This is what wise men have said, confirmed by their ancestors,
19 to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them.
those who to whom alone the land was given before foreigners ever were there.
20 A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
The wicked writhe in pain all their lives, through all the years these oppressors survive.
21 Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.
Terrifying sounds fill their ears; even when they think they're safe, the destroyer will attack them.
22 He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword.
They don't believe they will escape the darkness—they know a sword is waiting for them.
23 He wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
They wander around looking for food, asking ‘Where is it?’ They know that their day of darkness is close at hand.
24 Distress and anguish terrify him, overwhelming him like a king poised to attack.
Misery and torment overwhelm them like a king preparing for battle.
25 For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,
They shake their fists in God's face, defiantly challenging the Almighty,
26 rushing headlong at Him with a thick, studded shield.
insolently attacking him with their shields.
27 Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh,
They have become fat in their rebellion, their bellies bloated with fat.
28 he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become rubble.
But their cities will become desolate; they will live in abandoned houses that are crumbling into ruins.
29 He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land.
They will lose their riches, their wealth will not endure, their possessions will not spread over 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.
They will not escape from the darkness. Like a tree whose shoots are burned up in a forest fire, the breath of God will blow him away.
31 Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.
They should not trust in things that are worthless, for their reward will be worthless.
32 It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish.
This will be paid in full before their time has come. They are like tree branches that wither,
33 He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms.
like vines that lose their unripe grapes, or olive trees that lose their flowers.
34 For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery.
For those who reject God are barren, and fire will burn up the homes of those who love bribes.
35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”
They plan trouble and produce evil, giving birth to deception.”
