Job 15:1-35 AMP

[1] Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered [Job] and said, [2] “Should a wise man [such as you] utter such windy and vain knowledge [as we have just heard] And fill himself with the east wind [of withering, parching, and violent accusations]? [3] Should he rebuke and argue with useless talk? Or with words in which there is no benefit? [4] Indeed, you are doing away with fear, And you are diminishing meditation before God. [5] For your guilt teaches your mouth, And you choose [to speak] the language of the crafty and cunning. [6] Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; Yes, your own lips testify against you. [7] “Were you the first man to be born [the original wise man], Or were you created before the hills? [8] Do you hear the secret counsel of God, And do you limit [the possession of] wisdom to yourself? [9] What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not equally clear to us? [10] Among us are both the gray-haired and the aged, Older than your father. [11] Are the consolations of God [as we have interpreted them to you] too trivial for you, [Or] were we too gentle toward you [in our first speech] to be effective? [12] Why does your heart carry you away [allowing you to be controlled by emotion]? And why do your eyes flash [in anger or contempt], [13] That you should turn your spirit against God And let such words [as you have spoken] go out of your mouth? [14] What is man, that he should be pure and clean, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous and just? [15] Behold, God puts no trust in His holy ones (angels); Indeed, the heavens are not pure in His sight— [16] How much less [pure and clean is] the one who is repulsive and corrupt, Man, who drinks unrighteousness and injustice like water! [17] “I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare; [18] What wise men have [freely] told, And have not hidden [anything passed on to them] from their fathers, [19] To whom alone the land was given, And no stranger passed among them [corrupting the truth]. [20] The wicked man writhes with pain all his days, And numbered are the years stored up for him, the ruthless one. [21] A [dreadful] sound of terrors is in his ears; While at peace and in a time of prosperity the destroyer comes upon him [the tent of the robber is not at peace]. [22] He does not believe that he will return out of the darkness [for fear of being murdered], And he is destined for the sword [of God’s vengeance]. [23] He wanders about for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that the day of darkness and destruction is already at hand. [24] Distress and anxiety terrify him, They overpower him like a king ready for battle. [25] Because he has stretched out his hand against God And behaves arrogantly against the Almighty, [26] Running and charging headlong against Him With his ornamented and massive shield; [27] For he has covered his face with his fat, Adding layers of fat to his thighs [giving himself up to pleasures], [28] And he has lived in desolate [God-forsaken] cities, In houses which no one should inhabit, Which were destined to become heaps [of ruins]; [29] He will not become rich, nor will his wealth endure; And his grain will not bend to the earth nor his possessions be extended on the earth. [30] He will not escape from darkness [fleeing disaster]; The flame [of God’s wrath] will wither his branch, And by the blast of His mouth he will go away. [31] Let him not trust in vanity (emptiness, futility) and be led astray; For emptiness will be his reward [for such living]. [32] It will be fulfilled while he still lives, And his branch will not be green [but shall wither away]. [33] He will fail to bring his grapes to maturity [leaving them to wither unnourished] on the vine, And will cast off blossoms [and fail to bring forth fruit] like the olive tree. [34] For the company of the godless is barren, And fire consumes the tents of bribery (wrong and injustice). [35] They conceive mischief and bring forth wickedness, And their inmost soul prepares deceit and fraud.”