Job 15

Eliphaz Says Job Presumes Much

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite 1responded,2“Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge 2And fill 3himself with the east wind?3Should he argue with useless talk, Or with words which are not profitable?4Indeed, you do away with 4reverence And hinder meditation before God.5For 5your guilt teaches your mouth, And you choose the language of 6the crafty.6Your 7own mouth condemns you, and not I; And your own lips testify against you.

7“Were you the first man to be born, Or 8were you brought forth before the hills?8Do you hear the 9secret counsel of God, And limit wisdom to yourself?910What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that 11we do not?10Both the 12gray-haired and the aged are among us, Older than your father.11Are 13the consolations of God too small for you, Even the 14word spoken gently with you?12Why does your 15heart carry you away? And why do your eyes flash,13That you should turn your spirit against God And allow such words to go out of your mouth?14What is man, that 16he should be pure, Or 17he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?15Behold, He puts no trust in His 18holy ones, And the 19heavens are not pure in His sight;16How much less one who is 20detestable and corrupt, Man, who 21drinks iniquity like water!

What Eliphaz Has Seen of Life

17“I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare;18What wise men have told, And have not concealed from 22their fathers,19To whom alone the land was given, And no alien passed among them.20The wicked man writhes 23in pain all his days, And 24numbered are the years 25stored up for the ruthless.2126Sounds of 27terror are in his ears; 28While at peace the destroyer comes upon him.22He does not believe that he will 29return from darkness, And he is destined for 30the sword.23He wanders about for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of 31darkness is 32at hand.24Distress and anguish terrify him, They overpower him like a king ready for the attack,25Because he has stretched out his hand against God And conducts himself 33arrogantly against 34the Almighty.26He rushes 35headlong at Him With 36his massive shield.27For he has 37covered his face with his fat And made his thighs heavy with flesh.28He has 38lived in desolate cities, In houses no one would inhabit, Which are destined to become 39ruins.29He 40will not become rich, nor will his wealth endure; And his grain will not bend down to the ground.30He will 41not 42escape from darkness; The 43flame will wither his shoots, And by 44the breath of His mouth he will go away.31Let him not 45trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; For emptiness will be his 46reward.32It will be accomplished 47before his time, And his palm 48branch will not be green.33He will drop off his unripe grape like the vine, And will 49cast off his flower like the olive tree.34For the company of 50the godless is barren, And fire consumes 51the tents of 52the corrupt.35They 53conceive 54mischief and bring forth iniquity, And their 55mind prepares deception.”