Eliphaz Accuses Job of Folly
1 ThenEliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2 “Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge,
And fill himself with the east wind?
3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk,
Or by speeches with which he can do no good?
4 Yes, you cast off fear,
And restrain prayer before God.
5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
And you choose the tongue of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;
Yes, your own lips testify against you.
7 “Areyou the first manwhowas born?
# Or were you made before the hills?
8 Have you heard the counsel of God?
Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
9 What do you know that we do not know?
Whatdo you understand thatisnot in us?
10 Both the gray-haired and the agedareamong us,
Much older than your father.
11 Arethe consolations of God too small for you,
And the wordspokengently with you?
12 Why does your heart carry you away,
And what do your eyes wink at,
13 That you turn your spirit against God,
And letsuchwords go out of your mouth?
14 “Whatisman, that he could be pure?
Andhewhoisborn of a woman, that he could be righteous?
15 IfGodputs no trust in His saints,
And the heavens are not pure in His sight,
16 How much less man,whoisabominable and filthy,
# Who drinks iniquity like water!
17 “I will tell you, hear me;
What I have seen I will declare,
18 What wise men have told,
# Not hidinganythingreceivedfrom their fathers,
19 To whom alone the land was given,
# Andno alien passed among them:
20 The wicked man writhes with pain allhisdays,
# And the number of years is hidden from the oppressor.
21 Dreadful soundsarein his ears;
# In prosperity the destroyer comes upon him.
22 He does not believe that he willreturn from darkness,
For a sword is waiting for him.
23 Hewanders about for bread,saying,‘Whereisit?’
# He knowsthat a day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24 Trouble and anguish make him afraid;
They overpower him, like a king ready for battle.
25 For he stretches out his hand against God,
And acts defiantly against the Almighty,
26 Running stubbornly against Him
With his strong, embossed shield.
27 “Thoughhe has covered his face with his fatness,
And madehiswaist heavy with fat,
28 He dwells in desolate cities,
In houses which no one inhabits,
Which are destined to become ruins.
29 He will not be rich,
# Nor will his wealthcontinue,
Nor will his possessions overspread the earth.
30 He will not depart from darkness;
The flame will dry out his branches,
# Andby the breath of His mouth he will go away.
31 Let him nottrust in futilethings,deceiving himself,
For futility will be his reward.
32 It will be accomplishedbefore his time,
And his branch will not be green.
33 He will shake off his unripe grape like a vine,
And cast off his blossom like an olive tree.
34 For the company of hypocriteswillbebarren,
And fire will consume the tents of bribery.
35 They conceive trouble and bring forth futility;
Their womb prepares deceit.”