Job 15
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Then responded 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 unreal knowledge? or fill, with the east wind, his inner man?
3 He wouldn't argue with unprofitable speeches using words that do no good.
Disputing with discourse that doth no good, or with speech, wherein is no profit?
4 But you are doing away with the fear of God, and destroying communion with him.
But, thou, wouldst take away reverence, and wouldst attain unto meditation before GOD.
5 It's your sins that are doing the talking, and you are choosing deceptive words.
For thine own mouth would teach thine iniquity, and thou wouldst choose the tongue of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth is condemning you, not me; your own lips are testifying against you.
Thine own mouth shall condemn thee, and, not I, And, thine own lips, shall testify against thee.
7 Were you the very first person to be born? Were you born before the hills were created?
The first of mankind, wast thou born? Or, before the hills, wast thou brought forth?
8 Were you there listening in God's council? Does wisdom only belong to you?
In the secret council of GOD, hast thou been wont to hearken? Or canst thou attain for thyself unto wisdom?
9 What do you know that we don't? What do you understand that we don't?
What knowest thou, that we know not? [What] understandest thou, and the same, is not with us?
10 We have among us old, gray-haired people much older than your father!
Both hoary and venerable, are among us, one mightier than thy father in days!
11 Are the comforts God provides too little for you? Are God's gentle words not enough for you?
Too small for thee, are the consolations of GOD? or a word spoken gently with thee?
12 Why do you let yourself be carried away by your emotions?
How doth thine own heart carry thee away, and how thine eyes do roll!
13 Why do your eyes flash in anger that you turn against God and let yourself speak this way?
For thy spirit, replieth against GOD, and thou bringest forth—out of thy mouth—words!
14 Who can say they are clean? Which human being can say that they do what is right?
What is a mortal, that he should be pure? or that righteous should be one born of a woman?
15 Look, God doesn't even trust his angels—even the heavenly beings are not pure in his sight!
Lo! in his holy ones, he putteth not confidence, and, the heavens, are not pure in his eyes:
16 How much less pure are those who are unclean and corrupt, drinking in sin like water!
How much less when one is detested and corrupt, a man who drinketh in—like water—perversity.
17 If you are ready to listen to me, I will show you. I will explain my insights.
I will tell thee—hear me, Since this I have seen, I must needs declare it.
18 This is what wise men have said, confirmed by their ancestors,
Which, wise men, tell, and deny not [that which is] from their fathers.
19 those who to whom alone the land was given before foreigners ever were there.
To them alone, was the earth given, and no alien passed through their midst:
20 The wicked writhe in pain all their lives, through all the years these oppressors survive.
All the days of the lawless man, he, doth writhe with pain, and, the number of years, is hidden from the tyrant;
21 Terrifying sounds fill their ears; even when they think they're safe, the destroyer will attack them.
A noise of dreadful things, is in his ears, In prosperity, 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 confidence to come back out of darkness, he, being destined to the power oft the sword;
23 They wander around looking for food, asking ‘Where is it?’ They know that their day of darkness is close at hand.
A wanderer, he, for bread, [saying] Where [is it]? He knoweth that, prepared by his own hand, is the day of darkness;
24 Misery and torment overwhelm them like a king preparing for battle.
Distress and anguish shall startle him, It shall overpower him, like a king ready for the onset:
25 They shake their fists in God's face, defiantly challenging the Almighty,
Because he had stretched out—against GOD—his hand, and, against the Almighty, had been wont to behave himself proudly;
26 insolently attacking him with their shields.
He used to run against him with uplifted neck, with the stout bosses of his bucklers;
27 They have become fat in their rebellion, their bellies bloated with fat.
For he had covered his face with his fatness, and had gathered a superabundance on his loins;
28 But their cities will become desolate; they will live in abandoned houses that are crumbling into ruins.
And had inhabited demolished cities, houses, wherein men would not dwell, that were destined 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, nor shall his substance continue, neither shall their shadow stretch along on 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 depart out of darkness, his young branch, shall the flame dry up, and he shall depart, by the breath of his own mouth!
31 They should not trust in things that are worthless, for their reward will be worthless.
Let no one trust in him that—by vanity—is 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,
Before his day, shall it be accomplished, with, his palm-top, not covered with leaves;
33 like vines that lose their unripe grapes, or olive trees that lose their flowers.
He shall wrong—like a vine—his sour grapes, and shall cast off—as an olive-tree—his blossom.
34 For those who reject God are barren, and fire will burn up the homes of those who love bribes.
For, the family of the impious, is unfruitful, and, a fire, hath devoured the tents of bribery;
35 They plan trouble and produce evil, giving birth to deception.”
Conceiving mischief, and bringing forth iniquity, yea, their inmost soul, prepareth deceit.
