Job 15
1 respondens autem Eliphaz Themanites dixit
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 numquid sapiens respondebit quasi in 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 aequalis tui 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 intellegis 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 adtonitos habes oculos
Why do you let yourself be carried away by your emotions?
13 quid tumet contra Deum spiritus tuus ut proferas de ore 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 inmaculatus 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 inmutabilis et caeli 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 aquas 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 transibit 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 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 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 quaerendum 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 praeparatur ad proelium
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 quae in tumulos sunt redactae
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 credat 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 arescet
This will be paid in full before their time has come. They are like tree branches that wither,
33 laedetur quasi vinea in primo flore botrus eius et quasi oliva proiciens florem suum
like vines that lose their unripe grapes, or olive trees that lose their flowers.
34 congregatio enim hypocritae 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 praeparat dolos
They plan trouble and produce evil, giving birth to deception.”
