Job 15

Eliphaz

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

2 “Would a wise man answer with empty notions
or fill his belly with the hot east wind?

3 Would he argue with useless words,
with speeches that have no value?

4 But you even undermine piety
and hinder devotion to God.

5 Your sin prompts your mouth;
you adopt the tongue of the crafty.

6 Your own mouth condemns you, not mine;
your own lips testify against you.

7 “Are you the first man ever born?
Were you brought forth before the hills?

8 Do you listen in on God's council?
Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

9 What do you know that we do not know?
What insights do you have that we do not have?

10 The gray-haired and the aged are on our side,
men even older than your father.

11 Are God's consolations not enough for you,
words spoken gently to you?

12 Why has your heart carried you away,
and why do your eyes flash,

13 so that you vent your rage against God
and pour out such words from your mouth?

14 “What is man, that he could be pure,
or one born of woman, that he could be righteous?

15 If God places no trust in his holy ones,
if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,

16 how much less man, who is vile and corrupt,
who drinks up evil like water!

17 “Listen to me and I will explain to you;
let me tell you what I have seen,

18 what wise men have declared,
hiding nothing received from their fathers

19 (to whom alone the land was given
when no alien passed among them):

20 All his days the wicked man suffers torment,
the ruthless through all the years stored up for him.

21 Terrifying sounds fill his ears;
when all seems well, marauders attack him.

22 He despairs of escaping the darkness;
he is marked for the sword.

23 He wanders about—food for vultures;
he knows the day of darkness is at hand.

24 Distress and anguish fill him with terror;
they overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack,

25 because he shakes his fist at God
and vaunts himself against the Almighty,

26 defiantly charging against him
with a thick, strong shield.

27 “Though his face is covered with fat
and his waist bulges with flesh,

28 he will inhabit ruined towns
and houses where no one lives,
houses crumbling to rubble.

29 He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure,
nor will his possessions spread over the land.

30 He will not escape the darkness;
a flame will wither his shoots,
and the breath of God's mouth will carry him away.

31 Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless,
for he will get nothing in return.

32 Before his time he will be paid in full,
and his branches will not flourish.

33 He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes,
like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.

34 For the company of the godless will be barren,
and fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes.

35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil;
their womb fashions deceit.”

JOB 15

Eliphaz's Second Speech

If You Had Any Sense

1 Eliphaz from Temant said:
*

2 Job, if you had any sense,

3 you would stop spreading
all of this hot air.

4 Your words are enough
to make others turn from God
and lead them to doubt.

5 And your sinful, scheming mind
is the source of all you say.

6 I am not here as your judge;
your own words are witnesses
against you.

7 Were you the first human?
Are you older than the hills?

8 Have you ever been present
when God's councilt meets?
Do you alone have wisdom?

9 Do you know and understand
something we don't?

10 We have the benefit of wisdom
older than your father.

11 And you have been offered
comforting words from God.
Isn't this enough?

12 Your emotions are out of control,
making you look fierce;

13 that's why you attack God
with everything you say.

14  t No human is pure and innocent,

15 and neither are angels—
not in the sight of God.
If God doesn't trust his angels,

16 what chance do humans have?
We are so terribly evil
that we thirst for sin.

Just Listen to What I Know

17 Just listen to what I know,
and you will learn

18 wisdom known by others
since ancient times.

19 Those who gained such insights
also gained the land,
and they were not influenced
by foreign teachings.

20 But suffering is in store
each day for those who sin.

21 Even in times of success,
they constantly hear
the threat of doom.

22 Darkness, despair, and death
are their destiny.

23 They scrounge around for food,
all the while dreading
the approaching darkness.

24 They are overcome with despair,
like frightened soldiers facing
a fearsome king in battle.

25 This is because they rebelled
against God All-Powerful

26 and have attacked him
with their weapons.

27 They may be rich and fat,

28 but they will live in the ruins
of deserted towns.

29 Their property and wealth
will shrink and disappear.

30 They won't escape the darkness,
and the blazing breath of God
will set their future aflame.
*

31 They have put their trust
in something worthless;
now they will become worthless

32 like a date palm tree
without a leaf.t

33 Or like vineyards or orchards
whose blossoms and unripe fruit
drop to the ground.

34 Yes, the godless and the greedy
will have nothing but flames
feasting on their homes,

35 because they are the parents
of trouble and vicious lies.