Eliphaz Accuses Job of Folly

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

“Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge,
And fill [a]himself with the east wind?
Should he reason with unprofitable talk,
Or by speeches with which he can do no good?
Yes, you cast off fear,
And restrain [b]prayer before God.
For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
And you choose the tongue of the crafty.
(B)Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;
Yes, your own lips testify against you.

Are you the first man who was born?
(C)Or were you made before the hills?
(D)Have you heard the counsel of God?
Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
(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?

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Footnotes

  1. Job 15:2 Lit. his belly
  2. Job 15:4 meditation or complaint
  3. Job 15:11 Or a secret thing
  4. Job 15:12 Or why do your eyes flash

15 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

Should a wise man make answer with [a]vain knowledge,
And fill himself with the east wind?
Should he reason with unprofitable talk,
Or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?
Yea, thou doest away with fear,
And [b]hinderest [c]devotion before God.
For [d]thine iniquity teacheth thy mouth,
And thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.
Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I;
Yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

Art thou the first man that was born?
Or wast thou brought forth before the hills?
[e]Hast thou heard the secret counsel of God?
And dost thou limit wisdom to thyself?
What knowest thou, that we know not?
What understandest thou, which is not in us?
10 With us are both the grayheaded and the very aged men,
Much elder than thy father.
11 Are the consolations of God too small for thee,
[f]Even the word that is gentle toward thee?
12 Why doth thy heart carry thee away?
And why do thine eyes flash,
13 That against God thou turnest thy spirit,
And lettest words go out of thy mouth?

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Footnotes

  1. Job 15:2 Hebrew knowledge of wind.
  2. Job 15:4 Hebrew diminishest.
  3. Job 15:4 Or, meditation
  4. Job 15:5 Or, thy mouth teacheth thine iniquity
  5. Job 15:8 Or, Dost thou hearken in the council
  6. Job 15:11 Or, Or is there any secret thing with thee?