Eliphaz

15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite(A) replied:

“Would a wise person answer with empty notions
    or fill their belly with the hot east wind?(B)
Would they argue with useless words,
    with speeches that have no value?(C)
But you even undermine piety
    and hinder devotion to God.(D)
Your sin(E) prompts your mouth;(F)
    you adopt the tongue of the crafty.(G)
Your own mouth condemns you, not mine;
    your own lips testify against you.(H)

“Are you the first man ever born?(I)
    Were you brought forth before the hills?(J)
Do you listen in on God’s council?(K)
    Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?(L)
What do you know that we do not know?
    What insights do you have that we do not have?(M)
10 The gray-haired and the aged(N) are on our side,
    men even older than your father.(O)
11 Are God’s consolations(P) not enough for you,
    words(Q) spoken gently to you?(R)
12 Why has your heart(S) carried you away,
    and why do your eyes flash,
13 so that you vent your rage(T) against God
    and pour out such words(U) from your mouth?(V)

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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