Eliphaz’s Second Response to Job

15 Then[fn] Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

• 2 the wise answer with windy knowledge, and should he fill his stomach with the east wind?
• 3 that is not profitable or in words with which he cannot do good?
• 4 [fn] you yourself[fn] are doing away with fear, and you are lessening meditation[fn] God.
• 5  and you choose the tongue of the crafty.
• 6  and your lips testify against you.
• 7  And were you brought forth[fn] the hills?
• 8  And do you limit wisdom to yourself?
• 9  What do you understand that is not clear to us?
• 10 the gray-haired and the old are among us—[fn]
• 11  a word spoken gently with you?
• 12  And why do your eyes flash,
• 13  and you let such words go out of your mouth?
• 14 is a human being, that he can be clean, or[fn] that one born of a woman can be righteous?
• 15  and the heavens are not clean in his eyes.
• 16 [fn] he who is abominable and corrupt,[fn] a man drinking wickedness like water.
• 17  and what I have seen, I will tell[fn]—
• 18  and they have not hidden that which is from their ancestors,
• 19 [fn] the land was given, and no stranger passed through their midst.
• 20 one’s days he is writhing, even[fn] through the number of years that are laid up for the tyrant.
• 21 are in his ears; in prosperity the destroyer will come against him.
• 22 [fn] from darkness, and he himself[fn] is destined for the sword.
• 23 saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is ready[fn]
• 24  they[fn] overpower him like a king ready for the battle.
• 25  and he was arrogant to Shaddai;
• 26 [fn] runs against him [fn]
• 27  and has gathered fat upon his loins,
• 28 [fn] in desolate cities, in houses that they should not inhabit,
• which are destined for rubble.
• 29  and their possessions will not stretch across the earth.[fn]
• 30  a flame will dry up his new shoot,
• and by the wind of his mouth he shall be removed.
• 31  for worthlessness will be his recompense.
• 32 [fn] and his branch will not flourish.
• 33  and he will cast off his blossom like the olive tree;
• 34 the company of the godless is barren, and fire consumes the tents of those who accept bribes.
• 35 They conceive trouble and bring forth mischief, and their womb prepares deceit.”