Eliphaz Speaks

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

2Does a wise man answer with empty a counsel b

or fill himself c with the hot east wind?

3Should he argue d with useless talk

or with words that serve no good purpose?

4But you even undermine the ^•fear of God

and hinder meditation before Him.

5Your iniquity e teaches you what to say,

and you choose the language of the crafty.

6Your own mouth condemns you, not I;

your own lips testify against you. f

7Were you the first person ever born,

or were you brought forth before the hills? g

8Do you listen in on the council of God,

or have a monopoly on wisdom? h

9What do you know that we don’t?

What do you understand that is not clear to us?

10Both the gray-haired and the elderly are with us,

men older than your father.

11Are God’s consolations not enough for you,

even the words that deal gently with you?

12Why has your heart misled you,

and why do your eyes flash

13as you turn your anger i against God

and allow such words to leave your mouth?

14What is man, that he should be pure, j

or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

15If God puts no trust in His holy ones k

and the heavens are not pure in His sight, l

16how much less one who is revolting and corrupt, m

who drinks injustice n 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 suppressed by their ancestors, o

19the land was given to them alone

when no foreigner passed among them.

20A wicked man writhes in pain all his days;

only a few p years are reserved for the ruthless.

21Dreadful sounds fill his ears;

when he is at peace, a robber attacks him.

22He doesn’t believe he will return from darkness;

he is destined for the sword. q

23He wanders about for food, saying, “Where is it? ”

He knows the day of darkness is at hand.

24Trouble r and distress terrify him,

overwhelming him like a king prepared for battle.

25For he has stretched out his hand s against God

and has arrogantly opposed the ^•Almighty.

26He rushes headlong at Him

with his thick, studded shields.

27Though his face is covered with fat t

and his waistline bulges with it,

28he will dwell in ruined cities,

in abandoned houses destined to become piles of rubble. u

29He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure.

His possessions v will not increase in the land.

30He will not escape from the darkness;

flames will wither his shoots,

and by the breath of God’s mouth, he will depart. w

31Let him not put trust in worthless things, being led astray,

for what he gets in exchange will prove worthless.

32It will be accomplished before his time,

and his branch will not flourish.

33He will be like a vine that drops its unripe grapes x

and like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms.

34For the company of the godless y will have no children,

and fire will consume the tents of those who offer bribes.

35They conceive trouble z and give birth to evil;

their womb aa prepares deception. ab