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15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered [Job],

Should a wise man utter such windy knowledge [as we have just heard] and fill himself with the east wind [of withering, parching, and violent accusations]?

Should he reason with unprofitable talk? Or with speeches with which he can do no good?

Indeed, you are doing away with [reverential] fear, and you are hindering and diminishing meditation and devotion before God.

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

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

Are you the first man that was born [the original wise man]? Or were you created before the hills?

Were you present to hear the secret counsel of God? And do you limit [the possession of] wisdom to yourself?

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

10 Among us are both the gray-haired and the aged, older than your father by far.

11 Are God’s consolations [as we have interpreted them to you] too trivial for you? Is there any secret thing (any bosom sin) which you have not given up? [Or] were we too gentle [in our first speech] toward you to be effective?

12 Why does your heart carry you away [why allow yourself to be controlled by feeling]? And why do your eyes flash [in anger or contempt],

13 That you turn your spirit against God and let [such] words [as you have spoken] go out of your mouth?

14 What is man, that he could be pure and clean? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be right and just?

15 Behold, [God] puts no trust in His holy ones [the angels]; indeed, the heavens are not clean in His sight—

16 How much less that which is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks iniquity like water?

17 I will show you, hear me; and that which I have seen I will relate,

18 What wise men have not hid but have freely communicated; it was told to them by their fathers,

19 Unto whom alone the land was given, and no stranger intruded or passed among them [corrupting the truth].

20 The wicked man suffers with [self-inflicted] torment all his days, through all the years that are numbered and laid up for him, the oppressor.

21 A [dreadful] sound of terrors is in his ears; in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him [the dwellings of robbers are not at peace].

22 He believes that he will not return out of darkness, and [because of his guilt] he is waited for by the sword [of God’s vengeance].

23 He wanders abroad for food, saying, Where is it? He knows that the day of darkness and destruction is already close upon him.

24 Distress and anguish terrify him; [he knows] they shall prevail against him, like a king ready for battle.

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

26 Running stubbornly against Him with a thickly ornamented shield;

27 Because he has covered his face with his fat, adding layers of fat on his loins [giving himself up to animal pleasures],

28 And has lived in desolate [God-forsaken] cities and in houses which no man should inhabit, which were destined to become heaps [of ruins];

29 He shall not be rich, neither shall his wealth last, neither shall his produce bend to the earth nor his possessions be extended on the earth.

30 He shall not depart out of darkness [and escape from calamity; the wrath of God] shall consume him as flame consumes a dry tree, and by the blast of His mouth he shall be swept away.

31 Let him not deceive himself and trust in vanity (emptiness, falseness, and futility), for these shall be his recompense [for such living].

32 It shall be accomplished and paid in full while he still lives, and his branch shall not be green [but shall wither away].

33 He shall fail to bring his grapes to maturity [leaving them to wither unnourished] on the vine and shall cast off blossoms [and fail to bring forth fruit] like the olive tree.

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

35 They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity, and their inmost soul hatches deceit.

Eliphaz

15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite(A) replied:

“Would a wise person answer with empty notions
    or fill their belly with the hot east wind?(B)
Would they argue with useless words,
    with speeches that have no value?(C)
But you even undermine piety
    and hinder devotion to God.(D)
Your sin(E) prompts your mouth;(F)
    you adopt the tongue of the crafty.(G)
Your own mouth condemns you, not mine;
    your own lips testify against you.(H)

“Are you the first man ever born?(I)
    Were you brought forth before the hills?(J)
Do you listen in on God’s council?(K)
    Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?(L)
What do you know that we do not know?
    What insights do you have that we do not have?(M)
10 The gray-haired and the aged(N) are on our side,
    men even older than your father.(O)
11 Are God’s consolations(P) not enough for you,
    words(Q) spoken gently to you?(R)
12 Why has your heart(S) carried you away,
    and why do your eyes flash,
13 so that you vent your rage(T) against God
    and pour out such words(U) from your mouth?(V)

14 “What are mortals, that they could be pure,
    or those born of woman,(W) that they could be righteous?(X)
15 If God places no trust in his holy ones,(Y)
    if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,(Z)
16 how much less mortals, who are vile and corrupt,(AA)
    who drink up evil(AB) like water!(AC)

17 “Listen to me and I will explain to you;
    let me tell you what I have seen,(AD)
18 what the wise have declared,
    hiding nothing received from their ancestors(AE)
19 (to whom alone the land(AF) was given
    when no foreigners moved among them):
20 All his days the wicked man suffers torment,(AG)
    the ruthless man through all the years stored up for him.(AH)
21 Terrifying sounds fill his ears;(AI)
    when all seems well, marauders attack him.(AJ)
22 He despairs of escaping the realm of darkness;(AK)
    he is marked for the sword.(AL)
23 He wanders about(AM) for food like a vulture;(AN)
    he knows the day of darkness(AO) is at hand.(AP)
24 Distress and anguish(AQ) fill him with terror;(AR)
    troubles overwhelm him, like a king(AS) poised to attack,
25 because he shakes his fist(AT) at God
    and vaunts himself against the Almighty,(AU)
26 defiantly charging against him
    with a thick, strong shield.(AV)

27 “Though his face is covered with fat
    and his waist bulges with flesh,(AW)
28 he will inhabit ruined towns
    and houses where no one lives,(AX)
    houses crumbling to rubble.(AY)
29 He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure,(AZ)
    nor will his possessions spread over the land.(BA)
30 He will not escape the darkness;(BB)
    a flame(BC) will wither his shoots,(BD)
    and the breath of God’s mouth(BE) will carry him away.(BF)
31 Let him not deceive(BG) himself by trusting what is worthless,(BH)
    for he will get nothing in return.(BI)
32 Before his time(BJ) he will wither,(BK)
    and his branches will not flourish.(BL)
33 He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes,(BM)
    like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.(BN)
34 For the company of the godless(BO) will be barren,
    and fire will consume(BP) the tents of those who love bribes.(BQ)
35 They conceive trouble(BR) and give birth to evil;(BS)
    their womb fashions deceit.”