Eliphaz: Job Does Not Fear God

1But Eliphaz the Themanite, answering, said:

2Will a wise man answer as if he were speaking wind, and will he fill his stomach with fire?

3You rebuke with words he who is not equal to you, and you speak what is not expedient for you,

4to such an extent that, within yourself, you have expelled reverence and have taken away prayers from the presence of God.

5For your iniquity has mislead your mouth, and you imitate the tongue of blasphemers.

6Your own mouth will condemn you, not I; and your own lips will answer you.

7Are you the first man who was born, or were you formed before the hills?

8Have you heard the intentions of God, and will his wisdom be inferior to you?

9What do you know, about which we are ignorant? What do you understand that we do not know?

10There are with us both aged and ancient men, even more senior than your fathers.

11Is it so important that God should console you? But your own depraved words prevent this.

12Why does your heart exalt you, and why do you gaze with your eyes, as if thinking great things?

13Why does your spirit stir against God, so as to utter such speeches from your mouth?

14What is man that he should be immaculate, and that he should appear just, having been born of woman?

15Behold, among his holy ones not one is immutable, and even the heavens are not pure in his sight.

16How much more abominable and useless is the man who drinks as if from the water of iniquity?

17I will reveal to you, so listen to me; and I will explain to you what I have seen.

18The wise acknowledge, and they do not leave behind, their fathers,

19to whom alone the earth has been given, and no stranger passed among them.

20The impious is arrogant for all his days, and the number of the years of his tyranny is uncertain.

21The sound of terror is always in his ears; and when there is peace, he always suspects treason.

22He does not believe that it is possible for him to be turned from darkness into the light, for he sees around him the sword on every side.

23When he moves himself to seek bread, he knows that the day of darkness has been prepared for his hand.

24Tribulation will terrify him, and anguish will prevail over him, like a king who is being prepared to go to battle.

25For he has extended his hand against God, and he has strengthened himself against the Almighty.

26He has rushed against him with his throat exposed, and he has been armed with a fat neck.

27Thickness has covered his face, and lard hangs down from his sides.

28He has lived in desolate cities and deserted houses, which have been turned into tombs.

29He will not be enriched, nor will his basic necessities endure, nor will he establish his root in the earth.

30He will not withdraw from the darkness; the flame will burn up his branches, and he will be defeated by the breath of his own mouth.

31He will not believe, being vainly deceived by error, that he could be redeemed at any price.

32Before his time is completed, he will pass into ruin and his hands will wither away.

33He will be wounded like a grapevine, when its cluster is in first flower, and like an olive tree that casts off its flower.

34For the congregation of the hypocrites is fruitless, and fire will devour the tabernacles of those who love to accept money.

35He has conceived sorrow, and he has brought forth iniquity, and his womb prepares deceit.