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15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

“Should a wise man answer with vain knowledge,
    and fill himself with the east wind?
Should he reason with unprofitable talk,
    or with speeches with which he can do no good?
Yes, you do away with fear,
    and hinder devotion before God.
For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
    and you choose the language of the crafty.
Your own mouth condemns you, and not I.
    Yes, your own lips testify against you.

“Are you the first man who was born?
    Or were you brought out before the hills?
Have you heard the secret counsel of God?
    Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
What do you know that we don’t know?
    What do you understand which is not in us?
10 With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men,
    much older than your father.
11 Are the consolations of God too small for you,
    even the word that is gentle toward you?
12 Why does your heart carry you away?
    Why do your eyes flash,
13 that you turn your spirit against God,
    and let such words go out of your mouth?

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Second Series of Speeches

Eliphaz Speaks

15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

Does a wise man answer with empty[a] counsel(A)
or fill himself[b] with the hot east wind?
Should he argue(B) with useless talk
or with words that serve no good purpose?
But you even undermine the fear of God
and hinder meditation before him.
Your iniquity(C) teaches you what to say,
and you choose the language of the crafty.
Your own mouth condemns you, not I;
your own lips testify against you.(D)

Were you the first human ever born,
or were you brought forth before the hills?(E)
Do you listen in on the council of God,
or have a monopoly on wisdom?(F)
What do you know that we don’t?
What do you understand that is not clear to us?
10 Both the gray-haired and the elderly are with us—
older than your father.
11 Are God’s consolations not enough for you,
even the words that deal gently with you?
12 Why has your heart misled you,
and why do your eyes flash
13 as you turn your anger[c] against God
and allow such words to leave your mouth?

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Footnotes

  1. 15:2 Lit windy; Jb 16:3
  2. 15:2 Lit his belly
  3. 15:13 Or spirit