Eliphaz Accuses Job of Folly
Then aEliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2 “Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge,
And fill himself with the east wind?
3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk,
Or by speeches with which he can do no good?
4 Yes, you cast off fear,
And restrain prayer before God.
5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
And you choose the tongue of the crafty.
6 aYour own mouth condemns you, and not I;
Yes, your own lips testify against you.
7 “Are you the first man who was born?
aOr were you made before the hills?
8 aHave you heard the counsel of God?
Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
9 aWhat do you know that we do not know?
What do you understand that is not in us?
10 aBoth the gray‑haired and the aged are among us,
Much older than your father.
11 Are the consolations of God too small for you,
And the word spoken gently with you?
12 Why does your heart carry you away,
And what do your eyes wink at,
13 That you turn your spirit against God,
And let such words go out of your mouth?
14 “Whata is man, that he could be pure?
And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?
15 aIf God puts no trust in His saints,
And the heavens are not pure in His sight,
16 aHow much less man, who is abominable and filthy,
bWho drinks iniquity like water!
17 “I will tell you, hear me;
What I have seen I will declare,
18 What wise men have told,
Not hiding anything received afrom their fathers,
19 To whom alone the land was given,
And ano alien passed among them:
20 The wicked man writhes with pain all his days,
aAnd the number of years is hidden from the oppressor.
21 Dreadful sounds are in his ears;
aIn prosperity the destroyer comes upon him.
22 He does not believe that he will areturn from darkness,
For a sword is waiting for him.
23 He awanders about for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’
He knows bthat a day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24 Trouble and anguish make him afraid;
They overpower him, like a king ready for battle.
25 For he stretches out his hand against God,
And acts defiantly against the Almighty,
26 Running stubbornly against Him
With his strong, embossed shield.
27 “Thougha he has covered his face with his fatness,
And made his waist heavy with fat,
28 He dwells in desolate cities,
In houses which no one inhabits,
Which are destined to become ruins.
29 He will not be rich,
Nor will his wealth acontinue,
Nor will his possessions overspread the earth.
30 He will not depart from darkness;
The flame will dry out his branches,
And aby the breath of His mouth he will go away.
31 Let him not atrust in futile things, deceiving himself,
For futility will be his reward.
32 It will be accomplished abefore his time,
And his branch will not be green.
33 He will shake off his unripe grape like a vine,
And cast off his blossom like an olive tree.
34 For the company of hypocrites will be barren,
And fire will consume the tents of bribery.
35 aThey conceive trouble and bring forth futility;
Their womb prepares deceit.”
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved.