1Then answered Elifaz [my God is (fine) gold] the Temani [southward], 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 which he can do no good?

4Yes, youⁱ cast off fear, and restraints prayer before God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered].

5For yourⁱ mouth utters yourⁱ iniquity, and youⁱ choose the tongue of the crafty.

6Your1s own mouth condemns youⁱ, and not I: yes, yourⁱ own lips testify against youⁱ.

7[Are] youⁱ the first man [that] was born? or were youⁱ made before the hills?

8Have youⁱ heard the secret of God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered]? and do youⁱ restrain wisdom to yourself?

9What know youⁱ, that we know not? [what] understand youⁱ, which [is] not in us?

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

11[Are] the consolations of God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] small with youⁱ? is there any secret thing with youⁱ?

12Why does youⁱ heart carry youⁱ away? and what do youⁱ eyes wink at,

13That youⁱ turn yourⁱ spirit against God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], and let [such] words go out of yourⁱ mouth?

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

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

16How much more abominable and filthy [is] man, which drink iniquity like water?

17I will show youⁱ, 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 travails 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 wanders abroad for bread, [saying], Where [is it]? he knows 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 stretches out his hand against God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], and strengthens himself against the Almighty.

26He runs upon him, [even] on [his] neck, upon the thick bosses (bump-like shapes on a shield) of his bucklers:

27Because he covers his face with his fatness, and makes blubber of fat on [his] flanks.

28And he dwells in desolate cities, [and] in houses which no man inhabits, 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 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.

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 prepares deceit.