Job 15
The Voice
15 Eliphaz reiterated his points.
2 Eliphaz: Does a wise man reply with windy knowledge
and fill up his belly with the hot east wind?
3 Does a wise man reason with impotent chatter,
with bankrupt words of no account?
4 Indeed, Job, you have ignored your responsibility to revere God
and depreciated your own thoughts toward God;
5 For your faults inform your speech,
and your language is tricky.
6 Your own mouth condemns you, not I;
your own lips volunteer as witnesses against you.
7 Were you the firstborn among men?
Were you introduced to the earth before the hills were conceived?
8 Were you allowed to listen in on the deliberations in God’s assembly?
Do you imagine all knowledge to be confined to you and you only?
9 What do you know that we don’t know?
Do you have an understanding that has somehow eluded us?
10 We have gray hairs and elders among us
weighed down with years,
heavier than your father.
11 Do you find God’s many comforts too meager
and His gentle speech to you too mild?
12 What has stripped you of your reason, carried away your heart?
Why do your eyes flash with anger—
13 So much so that you unleash your spirit
and spray out such speeches against God?
14 What is humankind, that people would be considered pure?
And among those born of women,
who could possibly be innocent?
15 Look, if God refuses to trust even His holy attendants,
if even the heavens above are impure in His eyes,
16 Then how much less regard must He show for humankind, who is base and corrupt,
or for Adam’s children who drink sin like water.
Genesis 6:1–4 tells the strange story of God’s own heavenly messengers procreating with beautiful human women. Such a union was obviously forbidden, possibly because it endowed the children with eternal life, based on God’s response to the situation—limiting the lifespan of humans to 120 years. As Job has revealed, these heavenly messengers are with God all the time. They do His bidding. No one could possibly know His rules better than they do or have more motivation to follow them, yet they still chose to disobey God. Eliphaz’s point is clear: no human could possibly claim to be above the temptation to sin when God’s heavenly envoys are not.
17 Eliphaz: I will tell it like it is, so listen.
I’ll recount what I have seen:
18 The very things that knowledgeable men have declared
and which they do not hide that they heard from their fathers
19 To whom the land was granted long ago
when no foreigners were among them.
20 The wicked man endures misery his whole life long;
and many years of sorrow are stored up for the ruthless.
21 His ears are assailed by the sounds of terror;
but when he is finally at peace, the destroyer seizes him.
22 Unsure that he will ever escape darkness,
he lives ever-conscious of the sword.
23 He wanders aimlessly in search of food.
“Where is it?” he asks.[a]
He knows all the while that the great day of darkness is imminent.
24 He is addled by strain and anxiety, terrified;
he will be overwhelmed as if by a king about to descend upon his enemy in war.
25 For he raises his fist to God
and acts arrogantly like a hero against the Highest One.[b]
26 He runs at Him, headlong, headstrong,
and leads his charge behind the thick protection of a massive shield.
27 Strong and healthy, he has nourished himself well and prospered
until his face and his thighs are pleasantly fat.
28 He lodges in evacuated towns in empty houses unfit for habitation,
in buildings condemned to rubble and ruin.
29 He will never be rich; his wealth will not last,
nor will he have possessions enough for any to put down roots.
30 He will not manage to escape from darkness,
as it scorches like tender branches that wilt in the flame;
He will blow away like the breath of his mouth.
31 Don’t let him fool himself;
if he trusts in the emptiness of his vanity,
emptiness will be his reward.
32 Before his time is up, it will all be finished
and the branches of his trees will never leaf out.
33 He will be like the vine that drops its immature grapes,
the olive tree that sheds its own blossoms.
34 O the gathering of the godless is unfruitful,
and fire consumes the tents of those who pervert justice by giving bribes.
35 Their intercourse yields only the conception of misconduct,
the birth of sinfulness,
and their wombs carry only lies to term.
约伯记 15
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
以利法再次发言
15 提幔人以利法回答说：
2 “智者岂会用空谈作答，
满腹东风？
3 申辩时岂会讲无用的话，
说无益之言？
4 你摒弃对上帝的敬畏，
拒绝向祂祷告。
5 你的罪指示你开口，
使你说出诡诈之言。
6 并非我定你的罪，
定你罪的是你的口，
指控你的是你的嘴唇。
7 你岂是第一个出生的人？
你岂在群山之前被造？
8 你岂听过上帝的密旨？
你岂独揽智慧？
9 有何事你知而我们不知，
你懂而我们不懂？
10 我们这里有白发老人，
比你父亲还年长。
11 上帝用温柔的话安慰你，
难道你还嫌不够吗？
12 你为何失去理智，
为何双眼冒火，
13 以致你向上帝发怒，
口出恶言？
14 人算什么，怎能纯洁？
妇人所生的算什么，怎能公义？
15 连上帝的圣者都无法令祂信任，
连诸天在祂的眼中都不洁净，
16 更何况可憎败坏、
嗜恶如喝水的世人？
17 “让我告诉你，你好好听着。
我要把所见的陈明——
18 那是智者的教导，
是他们未曾隐瞒的祖训。
19 这片土地只赐给了他们，
没有外人在他们中间出入。
20 恶人一生受折磨，
残暴之徒终身受苦。
21 他耳边响着恐怖的声音，
他安逸时遭强盗袭击。
22 他不指望能逃脱黑暗，
他注定要丧身刀下。
23 他到处流浪，寻找食物，
他知道黑暗之日快要来临。
24 患难和痛苦使他害怕，
像君王上阵一样震慑他。
25 因为他挥拳对抗上帝，
藐视全能者，
26 拿着坚盾傲慢地挑战祂。
27 他满脸肥肉，
腰间堆满脂肪。
28 他住的城邑必倾覆，
他的房屋必成为一堆瓦砾，
无人居住。
29 他不再富足，
家财不能久留，
地产无法加增。
30 他无法逃脱黑暗，
火焰要烧焦他的嫩枝，
上帝口中的气要毁灭他。
31 他不可自欺，信靠虚空，
因为虚空必成为他的回报。
32 在他离世以前，虚空必临到他，
他的枝子再不会青绿。
33 他必像一颗葡萄树，
葡萄未熟已掉落；
又像一颗橄榄树，
花刚开便凋零。
34 不信上帝之辈必不生育，
受贿者的帐篷必被火烧。
35 他们心怀不轨，生出罪恶，
他们满腹诡诈。”
Job 15
King James Version
15 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,
2 Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?
3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?
4 Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.
5 For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.
6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.
7 Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills?
8 Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?
9 What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us?
10 With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.
11 Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?
12 Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at,
13 That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?
14 What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.
16 How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
17 I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare;
18 Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it:
19 Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them.
20 The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.
21 A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.
22 He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.
23 He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24 Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.
25 For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty.
26 He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers:
27 Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks.
28 And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.
29 He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.
30 He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away.
31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.
32 It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.
33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.
34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.
35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.
Job 15
New King James Version
Eliphaz Accuses Job of Folly
15 Then (A)Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2 “Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge,
And fill [a]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 [b]prayer before God.
5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
And you choose the tongue of the crafty.
6 (B)Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;
Yes, your own lips testify against you.
7 “Are you the first man who was born?
(C)Or were you made before the hills?
8 (D)Have you heard the counsel of God?
Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
9 (E)What do you know that we do not know?
What do you understand that is not in us?
10 (F)Both 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 [c]gently with you?
12 Why does your heart carry you away,
And [d]what do your eyes wink at,
13 That you turn your spirit against God,
And let such words go out of your mouth?
14 “What(G) is man, that he could be pure?
And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?
15 (H)If God puts no trust in His saints,
And the heavens are not pure in His sight,
16 (I)How much less man, who is abominable and filthy,
(J)Who 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 (K)from their fathers,
19 To whom alone the [e]land was given,
And (L)no alien passed among them:
20 The wicked man writhes with pain all his days,
(M)And the number of years is hidden from the oppressor.
21 [f]Dreadful sounds are in his ears;
(N)In prosperity the destroyer comes upon him.
22 He does not believe that he will (O)return from darkness,
For a sword is waiting for him.
23 He (P)wanders about for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’
He knows (Q)that a day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24 Trouble and anguish make him afraid;
They overpower him, like a king ready for [g]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 “Though(R) 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 (S)continue,
Nor will his possessions overspread the earth.
30 He will not depart from darkness;
The flame will dry out his branches,
And (T)by the breath of His mouth he will go away.
31 Let him not (U)trust in futile things, deceiving himself,
For futility will be his reward.
32 It will be accomplished (V)before 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 (W)They conceive trouble and bring forth futility;
Their womb prepares deceit.”
Job 15
Segond 21
Intervention n° 2 d’Eliphaz
15 Eliphaz de Théman prit la parole et dit:
2 «Le sage répliquerait-il par un savoir qui n’est que du vent?
Se gonflerait-il la poitrine du vent d'est?
3 Est-ce par des paroles sans intérêt qu'il se défendrait,
par des propos qui ne servent à rien?
4 Toi, tu détruis même la crainte de Dieu,
tu supprimes toute réflexion devant Dieu.
5 En effet, c’est ta faute qui dirige ta bouche
et tu adoptes le langage des hommes rusés.
6 »Ce n'est pas moi, ce sont tes propres paroles qui te condamnent,
ce sont tes propres lèvres qui témoignent contre toi.
7 Es-tu le premier homme?
As-tu été mis au monde avant les collines?
8 As-tu entendu ce qui se dit dans le conseil secret de Dieu?
As-tu confisqué la sagesse?
9 Que sais-tu que nous ne sachions pas?
Quelle connaissance as-tu que nous n'ayons pas?
10 Il y a parmi nous des hommes aux cheveux blancs, des vieillards
plus riches de jours que ton père.
11 »Considères-tu comme insignifiantes les consolations de Dieu
et les paroles qu’on t’adresse avec douceur?
12 Où ton cœur t'entraîne-t-il
et que signifie ce clignement de tes yeux?
13 Oui, c'est contre Dieu que tu tournes ta colère
et que tu avances de pareils discours!
14 »Qu'est donc l'homme pour prétendre à la pureté?
Celui qui est né de la femme pourrait-il être juste?
15 Si Dieu ne peut faire confiance à ses saints[a],
si le ciel n’est pas pur devant lui,
16 ce sera d’autant moins le cas de cet être abominable et corrompu
qu’est l'homme, qui boit l'injustice comme de l'eau!
17 »Je vais te parler: écoute-moi!
Je raconterai ce que j'ai vu,
18 ce que les sages ont fait connaître,
ce qu'ils ont révélé après l’avoir appris de leurs ancêtres.
19 Le pays leur appartenait alors à eux seuls
et aucun étranger n'était encore venu se mêler à eux.
20 »Le méchant passe dans l'angoisse tous les jours de sa vie,
toutes les années qui sont réservées à l’homme violent.
21 Un bruit terrifiant retentit à ses oreilles:
au beau milieu de la paix, le dévastateur fond sur lui.
22 Il ne peut espérer échapper aux ténèbres,
lui qui est guetté par l’épée.
23 Il court çà et là pour chercher du pain, mais où en trouver?
Il sait que le jour des ténèbres l'attend.
24 La détresse et l'angoisse le tourmentent,
elles l'assaillent comme un roi prêt à combattre,
25 car il a levé la main contre Dieu,
il a défié le Tout-Puissant.
26 Il a eu l'audace de foncer contre lui,
abrité par l’épaisseur de ses boucliers.
27 Il avait le visage tout potelé,
les flancs chargés d'embonpoint,
28 mais il habitera des villes détruites,
des maisons abandonnées,
sur le point de tomber en ruine.
29 Il ne s'enrichira plus, sa fortune ne se relèvera pas,
sa prospérité ne couvrira plus la terre.
30 Il ne pourra s’écarter des ténèbres;
les flammes dessécheront ses rejetons
et Dieu l’écartera par le souffle de sa bouche.
31 Qu'il ne se fie pas à la fausseté! Il serait déçu,
car c’est la fausseté qui serait sa récompense.
32 Cela s’accomplira avant la fin de ses jours,
et son rameau ne verdira plus.
33 Comme une vigne, il se dépouillera de ses fruits encore verts,
comme un olivier il fera tomber ses fleurs.
34 »La compagnie de l'impie est stérile,
et le feu dévorera les tentes des hommes corrompus.
35 Il conçoit le mal et donne naissance au malheur,
il couve la tromperie.»
Footnotes
- Job 15:15 Saints: probable allusion aux anges de Dieu.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Version Segond 21 Copyright © 2007 Société Biblique de Genève by Société Biblique de Genève