Eliphaz’s Second Response to Job

1 ThenEliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2 “Should the wise answer with windy knowledge,

and should he fill his stomach with the east wind?

3 Should he argue in talk that is not profitable

or in words with which he cannot do good?

4 “What is worse,you yourselfare doing away with fear,

and you are lessening meditation beforeGod.

5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,

and you choose the tongue of the crafty.

6 Your mouth condemns you, and not I;

and your lips testify against you.

7 “Were you born the firstborn of the human race?

And were you brought forth beforethe hills?

8 Have you listened in God’s confidential discussion?

And do you limit wisdom to yourself?

9 What do you know that we do not know?

What do you understand that is not clear to us?

10 Both the gray-haired and the old are among us—

those older than your father.

11 “Are the consolations of God too small for you,

a word spoken gently with you?

12 Why does your heart carry you away?

And why do your eyes flash,

13 that you turn your spirit against God,

and you let such words go out of your mouth?

14 “What is a human being, that he can be clean,

orthat one born of a woman can be righteous?

15 Look, he does not trust his holy ones,

and the heavens are not clean in his eyes.

16 How much lesshe who is abominable and corrupt,

a man drinking wickedness like water.

17 “I will show you, listen to me;

and what I have seen, I will tell—

18 what wise men have told,

and they have not hidden that which is from their ancestors,

19 to whom alonethe land was given,

and no stranger passed through their midst.

20 “All of the wicked one’s days he is writhing,

eventhrough the number of years that are laid up for the tyrant.

21 Sounds of terror are in his ears;

in prosperity the destroyer will come against him.

22 He cannot trust that he will returnfrom darkness,

and he himselfis destined for the sword.

23 “He is wandering for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’

He knows that a day of darkness is ready at hand.

24 Anguish and distress terrify him;

theyoverpower him like a king ready for the battle.

25 Because he stretched out his hand against God,

and he was arrogant to Shaddai;

26 he stubbornlyruns against him

with his thick-bossed shield.

27 “Because he has covered his face with his fat

and has gathered fat upon his loins,

28 he will dwellin desolate cities,

in houses that they should not inhabit,

which are destined for rubble.

29 He will not become rich, and his wealth will not endure,

and their possessions will not stretch across the earth.

30 “He will not escape from darkness;

a flame will dry up his new shoot,

and by the wind of his mouth he shall be removed.

31 Let him not trust in emptiness—he will be deceiving himself—

for worthlessness will be his recompense.

32 It will be paid in full before his time,

and his branch will not flourish.

33 “He will shake off his unripe fruit like the vine,

and he will cast off his blossom like the olive tree;

34 for the company of the godless is barren,

and fire consumes the tents of those who accept bribes.

35 They conceive trouble and bring forth mischief,

and their womb prepares deceit.”