Eliphaz Accuses: Job Does Not Fear God

15 Then (A)Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

“Should (B)a wise man answer with (C)windy knowledge,
    and fill his (D)belly with (E)the east wind?
Should he argue in unprofitable talk,
    or in words with which he can do no good?
But you are doing away with the fear of God[a]
    and hindering meditation before God.
For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
    and you choose the tongue of the crafty.
Your (F)own mouth condemns you, and not I;
    (G)your own lips testify against you.

(H)“Are you the first man who was born?
    Or (I)were you brought forth (J)before the hills?
Have you listened in (K)the council of God?
    And do you limit wisdom to yourself?
(L)What do you know that we do not know?
    What do you understand that is not clear to us?
10 (M)Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us,
    older than your father.
11 Are the comforts 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 (N)spirit against God
    and bring such words out of your mouth?

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Footnotes

  1. Job 15:4 Hebrew lacks of God

Job’s intelligence questioned

15 Eliphaz answered:

Will the wise respond with windy knowledge
    and fill their belly with the east wind?
Will they argue with a word that has no benefit
    and with unprofitable words?
You are truly making religion ineffective
    and restraining meditation before God.
Your mouth multiplies your sins a thousand times;
    you opt for a clever tongue.
Your mouth condemns you, not I;
    your lips argue against you.
Were you born the first Adam,
    brought forth before the hills?
Did you listen in God’s council;
    is wisdom limited to you?
What do you know that we don’t know;
    what do you understand that isn’t among us?
10 Both the graybeard and the aged are with us;
    those much older than your father.
11 Are God’s comforts not enough for you,
    a word spoken gently with you?
12 Why has your mind seized you,
    why have your eyes flashed,
13     so that you return your breath to God
    and utter such words from your mouth?

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