Job 15
Revised Standard Version
Eliphaz Speaks: Job Undermines Religion
15 Then Eli′phaz the Te′manite answered:
2 “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge,
and fill himself with the east wind?
3 Should he argue in unprofitable talk,
or in words with which he can do no good?
4 But you are doing away with the fear of God,
and hindering meditation before God.
5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
and you choose the tongue of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;
your own lips testify against you.
7 “Are you the first man that was born?
Or were you brought forth before the hills?
8 Have you listened in the council of God?
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 aged are among us,
older than your father.
11 Are the consolations of God too small for you,
or the word that deals 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 let such words go out of your mouth?
14 What is man, that he can be clean?
Or he that is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?
15 Behold, God puts no trust in his holy ones,
and the heavens are not clean in his sight;
16 how much less one who is abominable and corrupt,
a man who drinks iniquity like water!
17 “I will show you, hear me;
and what I have seen I will declare
18 (what wise men have told,
and their fathers have not hidden,
19 to whom alone the land was given,
and no stranger passed among them).
20 The wicked man writhes in pain all his days,
through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless.
21 Terrifying sounds are in his ears;
in prosperity the destroyer will come upon him.
22 He does not believe that he will return out of darkness,
and he is destined for the sword.
23 He wanders abroad for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’
He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand;
24 distress and anguish terrify him;
they prevail against him, like a king prepared for battle.
25 Because he has stretched forth his hand against God,
and bids defiance to the Almighty,
26 running stubbornly against him
with a thick-bossed shield;
27 because he has covered his face with his fat,
and gathered fat upon his loins,
28 and has lived in desolate cities,
in houses which no man should inhabit,
which were destined to become heaps of ruins;
29 he will not be rich, and his wealth will not endure,
nor will he strike root in the earth;[a]
30 he will not escape from darkness;
the flame will dry up his shoots,
and his blossom[b] will be swept away[c] by the wind.
31 Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself;
for emptiness will be his recompense.
32 It will be paid in full before his time,
and his branch will not be green.
33 He will shake off his unripe grape, like the vine,
and cast off his blossom, like the olive tree.
34 For the company of the godless is barren,
and fire consumes the tents of bribery.
35 They conceive mischief and bring forth evil
and their heart prepares deceit.”
Job 15
New Life Version
Eliphaz Talks
15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, 2 “Should a wise man answer with learning that is of no worth, and fill himself with the east wind? 3 Should he argue with talk that will not help, or with words that do no good? 4 For sure you are doing away with the fear of the Lord. You are stopping the quiet worship of God. 5 You show your sin by what you say. You are trying to hide behind your words. 6 Your own mouth says you are guilty, and not I. Your own lips speak against you.
7 “Were you the first man to be born? Or were you made before the hills? 8 Were you there to hear the secret plans of God? Are you the only one who has wisdom? 9 What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us? 10 Men whose hair has grown white and those who have lived many years are among us. They are older than your father. 11 Are the gentle words spoken to you, which give comfort from God, too little for you? 12 Why does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes shine, 13 that you turn your spirit against God and let such words go out of your mouth? 14 What is man, that he can be pure, or he who is born of a woman, that he can be right and good? 15 See, God puts no trust in His holy ones. The heavens are not pure in His eyes. 16 How much less one who is hated and sinful, a man who drinks sin like water!
17 “I will tell you, listen to me. I will make known what I have seen, 18 what wise men have told that they learned from their fathers. They have not hidden anything. 19 These were the ones to whom the land was given, and no stranger passed among them. 20 The sinful man suffers in pain all his days. His years are numbered because of all his sin. 21 Sounds of fear are in his ears. When all seems to be going well, the one who destroys will come upon him. 22 He does not believe that he will be taken away from darkness, and the sword is meant for him. 23 He goes to look for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is near. 24 Trouble and pain fill him with fear. They have power over him like a king ready for battle. 25 He has put out his hand against God, and is full of pride against the All-powerful. 26 He rushes in pride against Him with his big battle-covering. 27 His face is fat, and his thighs are heavy with fat. 28 He has lived in cities that have been laid waste, in houses where no one lives which will be destroyed. 29 He will no longer be rich, and what he has will not last. His grain will come to nothing. 30 He will not get away from darkness. The fire will dry up his branches, and the breath of God’s mouth will drive him away. 31 Let him not lie to himself and trust in what is empty. For what is empty will be his reward. 32 It will be paid in full while he still lives, and his branch will not be green. 33 He will be like the vine that drops off its grapes before they are ready. And he will throw off his flower like the olive tree. 34 Those who visit the sinful bring no fruit. And fire destroys the tents of those who do wrong. 35 They give birth to trouble and bring sin. Their minds plan lies.”
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.