Berean Study Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

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

2"Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge And fill himself with the east wind?

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

3"Should he argue with useless talk, Or with words which are not profitable?

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

4"Indeed, you do away with reverence And hinder meditation before God.

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

5"For your guilt teaches your mouth, And you choose the language of the crafty.

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

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

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

7"Were you the first man to be born, Or were you brought forth before the hills?

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

8"Do you hear the secret counsel of God, And limit wisdom to yourself?

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

9"What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that we do not?

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

10"Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, Older than your father.

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

11"Are the consolations of God too small for you, Even the word spoken gently with you?

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

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

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

13That you should turn your spirit against God And allow such words to go out of your mouth?

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

14"What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a 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,

15"Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones, And the heavens are not pure in His sight;

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

16How much less one who is detestable and corrupt, Man, who drinks iniquity like water!

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

17"I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare;

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

18What wise men have told, And have not concealed from their fathers,

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

19To whom alone the land was given, And no alien passed among them.

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

20"The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, And numbered are the years stored up for the ruthless.

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

21"Sounds of terror are in his ears; While at peace the destroyer comes upon him.

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

22"He does not believe that he will return from darkness, And he is destined for the sword.

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

23"He wanders about for food, saying, 'Where is it?' He knows that a day of darkness is at hand.

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

24"Distress and anguish terrify him, They overpower him like a king ready for the attack,

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

25Because he has stretched out his hand against God And conducts himself arrogantly against the Almighty.

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

26"He rushes headlong at Him With his massive shield.

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

27"For he has covered his face with his fat And made his thighs heavy with flesh.

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

28"He has lived in desolate cities, In houses no one would inhabit, Which are destined to become ruins.

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

29"He will not become rich, nor will his wealth endure; And his grain will not bend down to the ground.

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

30"He will not escape from darkness; The flame will wither his shoots, And by the breath of His mouth he will go away.

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

31"Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; For emptiness will be his reward.

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

32"It will be accomplished before his time, And his palm branch will not be green.

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

33"He will drop off his unripe grape like the vine, And will cast off his flower like the olive tree.

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

34"For the company of the godless is barren, And fire consumes the tents of the corrupt.

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

35"They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity, And their mind prepares deception."

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New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org