Job 15

Chapter 15

Eliphaz’s Second Response to Job

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 “A wise man wouldn’t answer with such empty talk!
You are nothing but a windbag.3 The wise don’t engage in empty chatter.
What good are such words?4 Have you no fear of God,
no reverence for him?5 Your sins are telling your mouth what to say.
Your words are based on clever deception.6 Your own mouth condemns you, not I.
Your own lips testify against you.7 “Were you the first person ever born?
Were you born before the hills were made?8 Were you listening at God’s secret council?
Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?9 What do you know that we don’t?
What do you understand that we do not?10 On our side are aged, gray-haired men
much older than your father!11 “Is God’s comfort too little for you?
Is his gentle word not enough?12 What has taken away your reason?
What has weakened your vision,t13 that you turn against God
and say all these evil things?14 Can any mortal be pure?
Can anyone born of a woman be just?15 Look, God does not even trust the angels.t
Even the heavens are not absolutely pure in his sight.16 How much less pure is a corrupt and sinful person
with a thirst for wickedness!17 “If you will listen, I will show you.
I will answer you from my own experience.18 And it is confirmed by the reports of wise men
who have heard the same thing from their fathers—19 from those to whom the land was given
long before any foreigners arrived.20 “The wicked writhe in pain throughout their lives.
Years of trouble are stored up for the ruthless.21 The sound of terror rings in their ears,
and even on good days they fear the attack of the destroyer.22 They dare not go out into the darkness
for fear they will be murdered.23 They wander around, saying, ‘Where can I find bread?’t
They know their day of destruction is near.24 That dark day terrifies them.
They live in distress and anguish,
like a king preparing for battle.25 For they shake their fists at God,
defying the Almighty.26 Holding their strong shields,
they defiantly charge against him.27 “These wicked people are heavy and prosperous;
their waists bulge with fat.28 But their cities will be ruined.
They will live in abandoned houses
that are ready to tumble down.29 Their riches will not last,
and their wealth will not endure.
Their possessions will no longer spread across the horizon.30 “They will not escape the darkness.
The burning sun will wither their shoots,
and the breath of God will destroy them.31 Let them no longer fool themselves by trusting in empty riches,
for emptiness will be their only reward.32 Like trees, they will be cut down in the prime of life;
their branches will never again be green.33 They will be like a vine whose grapes are harvested too early,
like an olive tree that loses its blossoms before the fruit can form.34 For the godless are barren.
Their homes, enriched through bribery, will burn.35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil.
Their womb produces 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.