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