Job — Chapter 15

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

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

3Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?

4But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him.

5For your iniquity instructs your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.

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

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

8Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?

9What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us?

10Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side—men much older than your father.

11Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?

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

13so that you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth?

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

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

16how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?

17Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,

18what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers,

19to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them.

20A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.

21Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.

22He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword.

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

24Distress and anguish terrify him, overwhelming him like a king poised to attack.

25For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,

26rushing headlong at Him with a thick, studded shield.

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

28he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become rubble.

29He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land.

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

31Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.

32It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish.

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

34For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery.

35They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”

1Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

2Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?

3Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?

4Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.

5For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

6Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

7Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills?

8Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?

9What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us?

10With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.

11Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?

12Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at,

13That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?

14What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

15Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

16How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

17I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare;

18Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it:

19Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them.

20The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.

21A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.

22He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.

23He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

24Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.

25For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty.

26He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers:

27Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks.

28And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.

29He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.

30He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away.

31Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.

32It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.

33He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.

34For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.

35They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

1Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

2Should a wise man make answer with vain knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind?

3Should he reason with unprofitable talk, Or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?

4Yea, thou doest away with fear, And hinderest devotion before God.

5For thine iniquity teacheth thy mouth, And thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

6Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I; Yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

7Art thou the first man that was born? Or wast thou brought forth before the hills?

8Hast thou heard the secret counsel of God? And dost thou limit wisdom to thyself?

9What knowest thou, that we know not? What understandest thou, which is not in us?

10With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, Much elder than thy father.

11Are the consolations of God too small for thee, Even the word that is gentle toward thee?

12Why doth thy heart carry thee away? And why do thine eyes flash,

13That against God thou turnest thy spirit, And lettest words go out of thy mouth?

14What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

15Behold, he putteth no trust in his holy ones; Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight:

16How much less one that is abominable and corrupt, A man that drinketh iniquity like water!

17I will show thee, hear thou me; And that which I have seen I will declare:

18(Which wise men have told From their fathers, and have not hid it;

19Unto whom alone the land was given, And no stranger passed among them):

20The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, Even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.

21A sound of terrors is in his ears; In prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.

22He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, And he is waited for of the sword.

23He wandereth abroad for bread, [saying], Where is it? He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

24Distress and anguish make him afraid; They prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.

25Because he hath stretched out his hand against God, And behaveth himself proudly against the Almighty;

26He runneth upon him with a [stiff] neck, With the thick bosses of his bucklers;

27Because he hath covered his face with his fatness, And gathered fat upon his loins;

28And he hath dwelt in desolate cities, In houses which no man inhabited, Which were ready to become heaps;

29He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, Neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth.

30He shall not depart out of darkness; The flame shall dry up his branches, And by the breath of [God`s] mouth shall he go away.

31Let him not trust in vanity, deceiving himself; For vanity shall be his recompense.

32It shall be accomplished before his time, And his branch shall not be green.

33He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, And shall cast off his flower as the olive-tree.

34For the company of the godless shall be barren, And fire shall consume the tents of bribery.

35They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity, And their heart prepareth deceit.

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

2“Does a wise man answer with blustery knowledge, or fill his belly with the east wind?

3Does he argue with useless talk, with words that have no value in them?

4But you even break off piety and hinder meditation before God.

5Your sin inspires your mouth; you choose the language of the crafty.

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

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

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

9What do you know that we don’t know? What do you understand that we don’t understand?

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

11Are God’s consolations too trivial for you, or a word spoken in gentleness to you?

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

13when you turn your rage against God and allow such words to escape from your mouth?

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

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

16how much less man, who is abominable and corrupt, who drinks in evil like water!

17I will explain to you; listen to me, and what I have seen, I will declare,

18what wise men declare, hiding nothing, from the tradition of their ancestors,

19to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them.

20All his days the wicked man suffers torment, throughout the number of the years that are stored up for the tyrant.

21Terrifying sounds fill his ears; in a time of peace marauders attack him.

22He does not expect to escape from darkness; he is marked for the sword;

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

24Distress and anguish terrify him; they prevail against him like a king ready to launch an attack,

25for he stretches out his hand against God, and vaunts himself against the Almighty,

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

27Because he covered his face with fat and made his hips bulge with fat,

28he lived in ruined towns and in houses where no one lives, where they are ready to crumble into heaps.

29He will not grow rich, and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land.

30He will not escape the darkness; a flame will wither his shoots, and he will depart by the breath of God’s mouth.

31Let him not trust in what is worthless, deceiving himself; for worthlessness will be his reward.

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

33Like a vine he will let his sour grapes fall, and like an olive tree he will shed his blossoms.

34For the company of the godless is barren, and fire consumes the tents of those who accept bribes.

35They conceive trouble and bring forth evil; their belly prepares deception.”

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2“Should a wise man answer with vain knowledge, and fill himself with the east wind?

3Should he reason with unprofitable talk, or with speeches with which he can do no good?

4Yes, you do away with fear, and hinder devotion before God.

5For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.

6Your own mouth condemns you, and not I. Yes, your own lips testify against you.

7“Are you the first man who was born? Or were you brought out before the hills?

8Have you heard the secret counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

9What do you know, that we don’t know? What do you understand, which is not in us?

10With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, much elder than your father.

11Are the consolations of God too small for you, even the word that is gentle toward you?

12Why does your heart carry you away? Why do your eyes flash,

13That you turn your spirit against God, and let such words go out of your mouth?

14What is man, that he should be clean? What is he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

15Behold, he puts no trust in his holy ones. Yes, the heavens are not clean in his sight;

16how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks iniquity like water!

17“I will show you, listen to me; that which I have seen I will declare

18(which wise men have told by their fathers, and have not hidden it;

19to whom alone the land was given, and no stranger passed among them):

20the wicked man writhes in pain all his days, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.

21A sound of terrors is in his ears. In prosperity the destroyer shall come on him.

22He doesn’t believe that he shall return out of darkness. He is waited for by the sword.

23He wanders abroad for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

24Distress and anguish make him afraid. They prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.

25Because he has stretched out his hand against God, and behaves himself proudly against the Almighty;

26he runs at him with a stiff neck, with the thick shields of his bucklers;

27because he has covered his face with his fatness, and gathered fat on his thighs.

28He has lived in desolate cities, in houses which no one inhabited, which were ready to become heaps.

29He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth.

30He shall not depart out of darkness. The flame shall dry up his branches. By the breath of God’s mouth shall he go away.

31Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; for emptiness shall be his reward.

32It shall be accomplished before his time. His branch shall not be green.

33He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive tree.

34For the company of the godless shall be barren, and fire shall consume the tents of bribery.

35They conceive mischief, and produce iniquity. Their heart prepares deceit.”