Job 15
1 Respondens autem Eliphaz Themanites, dixit:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 Numquid sapiens respondebit quasi ventum loquens, et implebit ardore stomachum suum?
“Would a wise man answer with such empty ‘knowledge’ that is just a lot of hot air?
3 Arguis verbis eum, qui non est æqualis tibi, et loqueris quod tibi non expedit.
He wouldn't argue with unprofitable speeches using words that do no good.
4 Quantum in te est evacuasti timorem, et tulisti preces coram Deo.
But you are doing away with the fear of God, and destroying communion with him.
5 Docuit enim iniquitas tua os tuum, et imitaris linguam blasphemantium.
It's your sins that are doing the talking, and you are choosing deceptive words.
6 Condemnabit te os tuum, et non ego: et labia tua respondebunt tibi.
Your own mouth is condemning you, not me; your own lips are testifying against you.
7 Numquid primus homo tu natus es, et ante colles formatus?
Were you the very first person to be born? Were you born before the hills were created?
8 Numquid consilium Dei audisti, et inferior te erit eius sapientia?
Were you there listening in God's council? Does wisdom only belong to you?
9 Quid nosti quod ignoremus? quid intelligis quod nesciamus?
What do you know that we don't? What do you understand that we don't?
10 Et senes, et antiqui sunt in nobis multo vetustiores quam patres tui.
We have among us old, gray-haired people much older than your father!
11 Numquid grande est ut consoletur te Deus? sed verba tua prava hoc prohibent.
Are the comforts God provides too little for you? Are God's gentle words not enough for you?
12 Quid te elevat cor tuum, et quasi magna cogitans, attonitos habes oculos?
Why do you let yourself be carried away by your emotions?
13 Quid tumet contra Deum spiritus tuus, ut proferas de ore tuo huiuscemodi sermones?
Why do your eyes flash in anger that you turn against God and let yourself speak this way?
14 Quid est homo, ut immaculatus sit, et ut iustus appareat natus de muliere?
Who can say they are clean? Which human being can say that they do what is right?
15 Ecce inter sanctos eius nemo immutabilis, et cæli non sunt mundi in conspectu eius.
Look, God doesn't even trust his angels—even the heavenly beings are not pure in his sight!
16 Quanto magis abominabilis et inutilis homo, qui bibit quasi aquam iniquitatem?
How much less pure are those who are unclean and corrupt, drinking in sin like water!
17 Ostendam tibi, audi me: quod vidi narrabo tibi.
If you are ready to listen to me, I will show you. I will explain my insights.
18 Sapientes confitentur, et non abscondunt patres suos.
This is what wise men have said, confirmed by their ancestors,
19 Quibus solis data est terra, et non transivit alienus per eos.
those who to whom alone the land was given before foreigners ever were there.
20 Cunctis diebus suis impius superbit, et numerus annorum incertus est tyrannidis eius.
The wicked writhe in pain all their lives, through all the years these oppressors survive.
21 Sonitus terroris semper in auribus illius: et cum pax sit, ille semper insidias suspicatur.
Terrifying sounds fill their ears; even when they think they're safe, the destroyer will attack them.
22 Non credit quod reverti possit de tenebris ad lucem, circumspectans undique gladium.
They don't believe they will escape the darkness—they know a sword is waiting for them.
23 Cum se moverit ad quærendum panem, novit quod paratus sit in manu eius tenebrarum dies.
They wander around looking for food, asking ‘Where is it?’ They know that their day of darkness is close at hand.
24 Terrebit eum tribulatio, et angustia vallabit eum, sicut regem, qui præparatur ad prælium.
Misery and torment overwhelm them like a king preparing for battle.
25 Tetendit enim adversus Deum manum suam, et contra Omnipotentem roboratus est.
They shake their fists in God's face, defiantly challenging the Almighty,
26 Cucurrit adversus eum erecto collo, et pingui cervice armatus est.
insolently attacking him with their shields.
27 Operuit faciem eius crassitudo, et de lateribus eius arvina dependet.
They have become fat in their rebellion, their bellies bloated with fat.
28 Habitavit in civitatibus desolatis, et in domibus desertis, quæ in tumulos sunt redactæ.
But their cities will become desolate; they will live in abandoned houses that are crumbling into ruins.
29 Non ditabitur, nec perseverabit substantia eius, nec mittet in terra radicem suam.
They will lose their riches, their wealth will not endure, their possessions will not spread over the earth.
30 Non recedet de tenebris: ramos eius arefaciet flamma, et auferetur spiritu oris sui.
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 Non credet frustra errore deceptus, quod aliquo pretio redimendus sit.
They should not trust in things that are worthless, for their reward will be worthless.
32 Antequam dies eius impleantur, peribit: et manus eius arescent.
This will be paid in full before their time has come. They are like tree branches that wither,
33 Lædetur quasi vinea in primo flore botrus eius, et quasi oliva proiiciens florem suum.
like vines that lose their unripe grapes, or olive trees that lose their flowers.
34 Congregatio enim hypocritæ sterilis, et ignis devorabit tabernacula eorum, qui munera libenter accipiunt.
For those who reject God are barren, and fire will burn up the homes of those who love bribes.
35 Concepit dolorem, et peperit iniquitatem, et uterus eius præparat dolos.
They plan trouble and produce evil, giving birth to deception.”
