New King James Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

2“Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind?

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

3Should he reason with unprofitable talk, Or by speeches with which he can do no good?

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

4Yes, you cast off fear, And restrain prayer before God.

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

5For your iniquity teaches your mouth, And you choose the tongue of the crafty.

5Your iniquity teaches you what to say, and you choose the language of the crafty.

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

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

7“Are you the first man who was born? Or were you made before the hills?

7Were you the first human ever born, or were you brought forth before the hills?

8Have you heard the counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

8Do you listen in on the council of God, or have a monopoly on wisdom?

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

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

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

10Both the gray-haired and the elderly are with us--older than your father.

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

11Are God's consolations not enough for you, even the words that deal gently with you?

12Why does your heart carry you away, And what do your eyes wink at,

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

13That you turn your spirit against God, And let such words go out of your mouth?

13as you turn your anger against God and allow such words to leave your mouth?

14“What is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?

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

15If God puts no trust in His saints, And the heavens are not pure in His sight,

15If God puts no trust in his holy ones and the heavens are not pure in his sight,

16How much less man, who is abominable and filthy, Who drinks iniquity like water!

16how much less one who is revolting and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?

17“I will tell you, hear me; What I have seen I will declare,

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

18What wise men have told, Not hiding anything received from their fathers,

18what the wise have declared and not concealed, that came from their ancestors,

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

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

20The wicked man writhes with pain all his days, And the number of years is hidden from the oppressor.

20A wicked person writhes in pain all his days, throughout the number of years reserved for the ruthless.

21Dreadful sounds are in his ears; In prosperity the destroyer comes upon him.

21Dreadful sounds fill his ears; when he is at peace, a robber attacks him.

22He does not believe that he will return from darkness, For a sword is waiting for him.

22He doesn't believe he will return from darkness; he is destined for the sword.

23He wanders about for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand.

23He wanders about for food, asking, "Where is it?" He knows the day of darkness is at hand.

24Trouble and anguish make him afraid; They overpower him, like a king ready for battle.

24Trouble and distress terrify him, overwhelming him like a king prepared for battle.

25For he stretches out his hand against God, And acts defiantly against the Almighty,

25For he has stretched out his hand against God and has arrogantly opposed the Almighty.

26Running stubbornly against Him With his strong, embossed shield.

26He rushes headlong at him with his thick, studded shields.

27“Though he has covered his face with his fatness, And made his waist heavy with fat,

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

28He dwells in desolate cities, In houses which no one inhabits, Which are destined to become ruins.

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

29He will not be rich, Nor will his wealth continue, Nor will his possessions overspread the earth.

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

30He will not depart from darkness; The flame will dry out his branches, And by the breath of His mouth he will go away.

30He will not escape from the darkness; flames will wither his shoots, and by the breath of God's mouth, he will depart.

31Let him not trust in futile things, deceiving himself, For futility will be his reward.

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 be green.

32It will be accomplished before his time, and his branch will not flourish.

33He will shake off his unripe grape like a vine, And cast off his blossom like an olive tree.

33He will be like a vine that drops its unripe grapes and like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms.

34For the company of hypocrites will be barren, And fire will consume the tents of bribery.

34For the company of the godless will have no children, and fire will consume the tents of those who offer bribes.

35They conceive trouble and bring forth futility; Their womb prepares deceit.”

35They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb prepares deception.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.