Job 15

Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

Eliphaz the Temanite responded, his voice filled with emotion, saying,

Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?

Should a wise person speak empty words and feed on meaningless thoughts?

Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?

Should he engage in pointless debates? Or speak words that bring no benefit?

Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.

Indeed, you dismiss reverence and hold back your prayers to God.

For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

Your words reveal your wrongs, and you cunningly choose deceitful speech.

Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

Your own words betray you, not me; indeed, your own speech incriminates you.

Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills?

Were you the first human to grace this earth? Or did your existence precede the majestic hills?

Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?

Have you discovered God's mysteries? Are you keeping wisdom all to yourself?

What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us?

What do you know that we don't? What understanding do you have that we lack?

With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.

Among us are wise, elderly men, far older than your father.

Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?

Do you feel that God's comfort is insignificant to you? Do you have any hidden doubts or secrets?

Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at,

Why does your heart lead you astray? Why do your eyes flash like that,

That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?

Why are you directing your anger towards God and speaking such harsh words?

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

Why should humans, born of women, be considered pure or virtuous?

Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

Even his holy ones can't earn his complete trust; even the skies aren't pure enough for him.

How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

How much more vile and corrupt is a human being, who greedily drinks in wrongdoing as if it were water?

I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare;

Listen to me, I'll reveal to you the wonders I've witnessed.

Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it:

Wise men have always shared the wisdom passed down from their ancestors, never keeping it a secret.

Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them.

To whom the world was solely gifted, and no outsider ever trespassed.

The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.

The cruel man suffers in agony every day, unaware of how long his tyranny will last.

A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.

He hears a terrifying noise: even in his success, ruin will find him.

He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.

He lacks faith that he can emerge from his dark times, and the sword is waiting for him.

He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

He roams far and wide in search of food, asking, "Where can I find it?" He is aware that the shadow of hardship is looming near.

Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.

Fear and distress will overwhelm him, overpowering him like a king prepared for war.

For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty.

He defiantly raises his hand against God, boldly standing against the Almighty.

He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers:

He charges at him fearlessly, aiming straight for his throat, even against the sturdy shields he carries.

Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks.

Because he hides his face behind his excess weight, and allows fat to accumulate on his sides.

And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.

He lives alone in abandoned towns and empty homes, on the verge of turning into ruins.

He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.

He won't stay rich, his possessions won't last, and his wealth won't keep spreading across the land.

He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away.

He will never escape from the shadows; his life will wither like a flame-dried branch, and with a mere whisper, he will be gone.

Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.

Don't let the misguided place their faith in emptiness, for emptiness will be their only reward.

It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.

His end will come prematurely, his life will lack vitality and growth.

He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.

He will discard his immature fruits like a vine, and let go of his blossoms like an olive tree.

For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.

The gathering of fakes will be left empty, and the flames will devour the homes built on corruption.

They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

They plot evil, give birth to lies, and their hearts brew deception.