Job 15
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
2 “Would a wise man answer with such empty ‘knowledge’ that is just a lot of hot air?
Should a wise man answer with arguments of wind, Or fill his bosom with the east wind?
3 He wouldn't argue with unprofitable speeches using words that do no good.
Should he argue with speech that helpeth him not, And with words which do not profit him?
4 But you are doing away with the fear of God, and destroying communion with him.
Behold, thou makest the fear of God a vain thing, And discouragest prayer before him.
5 It's your sins that are doing the talking, and you are choosing deceptive words.
Yea, thy own mouth proclaimeth thy iniquity, Though thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth is condemning you, not me; your own lips are testifying against you.
Thy own mouth condemneth thee, and not I; Thy own lips testify against thee.
7 Were you the very first person to be born? Were you born before the hills were created?
Art thou the first man that was born? Wast thou formed before the hills?
8 Were you there listening in God's council? Does wisdom only belong to you?
Hast thou listened in the council of God, And drawn all wisdom to thyself?
9 What do you know that we don't? What do you understand that we don't?
What dost thou know, that we know not also? What dost thou understand, that is a secret to us?
10 We have among us old, gray-haired people much older than your father!
With us are the aged and hoary-headed; Much older than thy father.
11 Are the comforts God provides too little for you? Are God's gentle words not enough for you?
Dost thou despise the consolations of God, And words so full of kindness to thee?
12 Why do you let yourself be carried away by your emotions?
Why hath thy passion taken possession of thee? And why this winking of thine eyes?
13 Why do your eyes flash in anger that you turn against God and let yourself speak this way?
For against God hast thou turned thy spirit, And uttered such words from thy mouth.
14 Who can say they are clean? Which human being can say that they do what is right?
What is man, that he should be pure, And he that is born of woman, that he should be innocent?
15 Look, God doesn't even trust his angels—even the heavenly beings are not pure in his sight!
Behold, He putteth no trust in his ministering spirits, And the heavens are not pure in his sight;
16 How much less pure are those who are unclean and corrupt, drinking in sin like water!
Much less, abominable and polluted man, Who drinketh iniquity as water.
17 If you are ready to listen to me, I will show you. I will explain my insights.
Hear me, and I will show thee, And that which I have seen will I declare;
18 This is what wise men have said, confirmed by their ancestors,
Which the wise men have told, And not kept concealed, as received from their fathers;
19 those who to whom alone the land was given before foreigners ever were there.
To whom alone the land was given, And among whom not a stranger wandered.
20 The wicked writhe in pain all their lives, through all the years these oppressors survive.
“All his days the wicked man is in pain; Yea, all the years, that are laid up for the oppressor.
21 Terrifying sounds fill their ears; even when they think they're safe, the destroyer will attack them.
A fearful sound is in his ears; In peace the destroyer cometh upon him.
22 They don't believe they will escape the darkness—they know a sword is waiting for them.
He hath no hope that he shall escape from darkness; He is set apart for the sword.
23 They wander around looking for food, asking ‘Where is it?’ They know that their day of darkness is close at hand.
He wandereth about, seeking bread; He knoweth that a day of darkness is at hand.
24 Misery and torment overwhelm them like a king preparing for battle.
Distress and anguish fill him with dread; They prevail against him like a king ready for the battle.
25 They shake their fists in God's face, defiantly challenging the Almighty,
Because he stretched forth his hand against God, And bade defiance to the Almighty,
26 insolently attacking him with their shields.
And ran against him with outstretched neck, With the thick bosses of his bucklers;
27 They have become fat in their rebellion, their bellies bloated with fat.
Because he covered his face with fatness, And gathered fat upon his loins,
28 But their cities will become desolate; they will live in abandoned houses that are crumbling into ruins.
And dwelt in desolated cities, In houses which no man inhabiteth, That are ready to become heaps.
29 They will lose their riches, their wealth will not endure, their possessions will not spread over the earth.
He shall not be rich; his substance shall not endure, And his possessions shall not be extended upon the earth.
30 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.
He shall not escape from darkness, And the flame shall dry up his branches; Yea, by the breath of His mouth shall he be taken away.
31 They should not trust in things that are worthless, for their reward will be worthless.
“Let not man trust in vanity! he will be deceived; For vanity shall be his recompense.
32 This will be paid in full before their time has come. They are like tree branches that wither,
He shall come to his end before his time, And his branch shall not be green.
33 like vines that lose their unripe grapes, or olive trees that lose their flowers.
He shall shake off his unripe fruit like the vine, And shed his blossoms like the olive-tree.
34 For those who reject God are barren, and fire will burn up the homes of those who love bribes.
The house of the unrighteous shall be famished, And fire shall consume the tents of bribery.
35 They plan trouble and produce evil, giving birth to deception.”
They conceive mischief, and bring forth misery, And their breast deviseth deceit.”
