Job 15:1-35 GNT

[1] Empty words, Job! Empty words! [3] No one who is wise would talk the way you do or defend himself with such meaningless words. [4] If you had your way, no one would fear God; no one would pray to him. [5] Your wickedness is evident by what you say; you are trying to hide behind clever words. [6] There is no need for me to condemn you; you are condemned by every word you speak. [7] Do you think you were the first person born? Were you there when God made the mountains? [8] Did you overhear the plans God made? Does human wisdom belong to you alone? [9] There is nothing you know that we don't know. [10] We learned our wisdom from gray-haired people- those born before your father. [11] God offers you comfort; why still reject it? We have spoken for him with calm, even words. [12] But you are excited and glare at us in anger. [13] You are angry with God and denounce him. [14] Can any human being be really pure? Can anyone be right with God? [15] Why, God does not trust even his angels; even they are not pure in his sight. [16] And we drink evil as if it were water; yes, we are corrupt; we are worthless. [17] Now listen, Job, to what I know. [18] Those who are wise have taught me truths which they learned from their ancestors, and they kept no secrets hidden. [19] Their land was free from foreigners; there was no one to lead them away from God. [20] The wicked who oppress others will be in torment as long as they live. [21] Voices of terror will scream in their ears, and robbers attack when they think they are safe. [22] They have no hope of escaping from darkness, for somewhere a sword is waiting to kill them, [23] and vultures are waiting to eat their corpses. They know their future is dark; [24] disaster, like a powerful king, is waiting to attack them. [25] That is the fate of those who shake their fists at God and defy the Almighty. [26] They are proud and rebellious; they stubbornly hold up their shields and rush to fight against God. [28] They are the ones who captured cities and seized houses whose owners had fled, but war will destroy those cities and houses. [29] They will not remain rich for long; nothing they own will last. Even their shadows will vanish, [30] and they will not escape from darkness. They will be like trees whose branches are burned by fire, whose blossoms are blown away by the wind. [31] If they are foolish enough to trust in evil, then evil will be their reward. [32] Before their time is up they will wither, wither like a branch and never be green again. [33] They will be like vines that lose their unripe grapes; like olive trees that drop their blossoms. [34] There will be no descendants for godless people, and fire will destroy the homes built by bribery. [35] These are the ones who plan trouble and do evil; their hearts are always full of deceit.