Job 15:1-35 CEB

[1] Eliphaz answered: [2] Will the wise respond with windy knowledge and fill their belly with the east wind? [3] Will they argue with a word that has no benefit and with unprofitable words? [4] You are truly making religion ineffective and restraining meditation before God. [5] Your mouth multiplies your sins a thousand times; you opt for a clever tongue. [6] Your mouth condemns you, not I; your lips argue against you. [7] Were you born the first Adam, brought forth before the hills? [8] Did you listen in God’s council; is wisdom limited to you? [9] What do you know that we don’t know; what do you understand that isn’t among us? [10] Both the graybeard and the aged are with us; those much older than your father. [11] Are God’s comforts not enough for you, a word spoken gently with you? [12] Why has your mind seized you, why have your eyes flashed, [13] so that you return your breath to God and utter such words from your mouth? [14] What are humans that they might be pure, and those born of woman that they might be innocent? [15] If he doesn’t trust his holy ones and the heavens aren’t pure in his eyes, [16] how much less those who are abominable and corrupt, for they drink sin like water. [17] Listen to me; I will argue with you; what I’ve seen, I will declare to you; [18] what the wise have told and have not concealed from their family, [19] to whom alone the earth was given and no stranger passed in their midst. [20] All the days of the wicked are painful; the number of years reserved for the hateful; [21] a sound of terror pierces their ears; when safe, raiders overtake them. [22] They can’t count on turning away from darkness; they are destined for a sword. [23] They wander about for bread. “Where is it?” They know that their day of darkness is fixed. [24] Adversity and stress scare them, master them like a king ready to strike; [25] for they raise a fist against God and try to overpower the Almighty. [26] They run toward him aggressively, with a massive and strong shield. [27] They cover their face with grease and make their loins gross. [28] They lived in ruined cities, unoccupied houses that turn to rubble. [29] They won’t get rich; their wealth won’t last; their property won’t extend over the earth. [30] They can’t turn away from darkness; a flame will dry out their shoots, and they will be taken away by the wind from his mouth. [31] They shouldn’t trust in what has no worth, for their reward will be worthless. [32] Before their branch is formed, before it is green, [33] like the vine, they will drop early grapes and cast off their blossoms like the olive. [34] The ruthless gang is barren, and fire consumes the tents of bribers. [35] They conceive toil and give birth to sorrow; their belly establishes deceit.