Job 15
1 And Eliphaz the Themanite, answered, and said:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 Will a wise man answer as if he were speaking in the wind, and fill his stomach with burning heat?
“Would a wise man answer with such empty ‘knowledge’ that is just a lot of hot air?
3 Thou reprovest him by words, who is not equal to thee, and thou speakest that which is not good for thee.
He wouldn't argue with unprofitable speeches using words that do no good.
4 As much as is in thee, thou hast made void fear, and hast taken away prayers from before God.
But you are doing away with the fear of God, and destroying communion with him.
5 For thy iniquity hath taught thy mouth, and thou imitatest the tongue of blasphemers.
It's your sins that are doing the talking, and you are choosing deceptive words.
6 Thy own mouth shall condemn thee, and not I: and thy own lips shall answer thee.
Your own mouth is condemning you, not me; your own lips are testifying against you.
7 Art thou the first man that was born, or wast thou made before the hills?
Were you the very first person to be born? Were you born before the hills were created?
8 Hast thou heard God’s counsel, and shall his wisdom be inferior to thee?
Were you there listening in God's council? Does wisdom only belong to you?
9 What knowest thou that we are ignorant of? what dost thou understand that we know not?
What do you know that we don't? What do you understand that we don't?
10 There are with us also aged and ancient men, much elder than thy fathers.
We have among us old, gray-haired people much older than your father!
11 Is it a great matter that God should comfort thee? but thy wicked words hinder this.
Are the comforts God provides too little for you? Are God's gentle words not enough for you?
12 Why doth thy heart elevate thee, and why dost thou stare with thy eyes, as if they were thinking great things?
Why do you let yourself be carried away by your emotions?
13 Why doth thy spirit swell against God, to utter such words out of thy 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 without spot, and he that is born of a woman that he should appear just?
Who can say they are clean? Which human being can say that they do what is right?
15 Behold among his saints none is unchangeable, and the heavens are not pure in his sight.
Look, God doesn't even trust his angels—even the heavenly beings are not pure in his sight!
16 How much more is man abominable, and unprofitable, who drinketh iniquity like water?
How much less pure are those who are unclean and corrupt, drinking in sin like water!
17 I will shew thee, hear me: and I will tell thee what I have seen.
If you are ready to listen to me, I will show you. I will explain my insights.
18 Wise men confess and hide not their fathers.
This is what wise men have said, confirmed by their ancestors,
19 To whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger hath passed among them.
those who to whom alone the land was given before foreigners ever were there.
20 The wicked man is proud all his days, and the number of the years of his tyranny is uncertain.
The wicked writhe in pain all their lives, through all the years these oppressors survive.
21 The sound of dread is always in his ears: and when there is peace, he always suspecteth treason.
Terrifying sounds fill their ears; even when they think they're safe, the destroyer will attack them.
22 He believeth not that he may return from darkness to light, looking round about for the sword on every side.
They don't believe they will escape the darkness—they know a sword is waiting for them.
23 When he moveth himself to seek bread, he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
They wander around looking for food, asking ‘Where is it?’ They know that their day of darkness is close at hand.
24 Tribulation shall terrify him, and distress shall surround him, as a king that is prepared for the battle.
Misery and torment overwhelm them like a king preparing for battle.
25 For he hath stretched out his hand against God, and hath strengthened himself against the Almighty.
They shake their fists in God's face, defiantly challenging the Almighty,
26 He hath run against him with his neck raised up, and is armed with a fat neck.
insolently attacking him with their shields.
27 Fatness hath covered his face, and the fat hangeth down on his sides.
They have become fat in their rebellion, their bellies bloated with fat.
28 He hath dwelt in desolate cities, and in desert houses that are reduced into heaps.
But their cities will become desolate; they will live in abandoned houses that are crumbling into ruins.
29 He shall not be enriched, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he push his root in the earth.
They will lose their riches, their wealth will not endure, their possessions will not spread over the earth.
30 He shall not depart out of darkness: the flame shall dry up his branches, and he shall be taken away by the breath of his own month.
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 He shall not believe, being vainly deceived by error, that he may be redeemed with any price.
They should not trust in things that are worthless, for their reward will be worthless.
32 Before his days be full he shall perish: and his hands shall wither away.
This will be paid in full before their time has come. They are like tree branches that wither,
33 He shall be blasted as a vine when its grapes are in the first flower, and as an olive tree that casteth its flower.
like vines that lose their unripe grapes, or olive trees that lose their flowers.
34 For the congregation of the hypocrite is barren, and fire shall devour their tabernacles, who love to take bribes.
For those who reject God are barren, and fire will burn up the homes of those who love bribes.
35 He hath conceived sorrow, and hath brought forth iniquity, and his womb prepareth deceits.
They plan trouble and produce evil, giving birth to deception.”
