Job 15

Eliphaz Calls Out Job’s Words

1 Then Eliphaz from Teman spoke up.

2 “Job, should a wise man answer with hot air, Should he fill his belly with empty words like wind,

3 Should he argue with words that does not profit and speeches that does not help,

4 Man, you disrespect God by trashing the fear of Him, and you block devotion when you talk like this.

5 Your sin is schooling your mouth, and your slick tongue is testifying against you.

6 It is not me condemning you, your own mouth is doing that. Your lips are testifying.”

Eliphaz Claims Job Is Not Above Others

7 “Were you the first man ever born, Were you made before the hills,

8 Do you hear God’s secret counsel, Do you think all wisdom belongs to you,

9 What do you know that we do not, What do you understand that is not with us,

10 Among us are gray-haired men and old heads, older than your father.

11 Are God’s comforting words too small for you, Words He speaks gently to you,

12 Why is your heart pulling you away, Why are your eyes flashing with anger,

13 You turning your spirit against God, letting words pour out your mouth against Him.”

Eliphaz Talks About Human Sin

14 “What is man, that he can be pure, Or somebody born of a woman, that he can be righteous,

15 If God does not even trust His holy angels and the heavens are not clean in His eyes,

16 How much less a man who is filthy and drinks wickedness like water?”

Eliphaz Describes the Wicked

17 “Listen to me, I will tell you what I saw, what I learned and passed down.

18 Wise men told me this, not hiding what they heard from their ancestors.

19 The land was given only to them, no stranger passed among them.

20 The wicked suffer all their days, and years of pain are laid up for the ruthless.

21 Terrifying sounds fill their ears; even in peace, the destroyer comes against them.

22 They do not believe they will come back from the dark. They always looking over their shoulder for the sword.

23 They wander for bread, saying, ‘Where is it at?’ They know the day of darkness is at hand.

24 Distress and anguish scare them, overpower them like a king ready for battle.

25 Because they raised their hand against God and dared to fight the Almighty,

26 Running at Him head-on with a thick, strong shield.

27 They fatten themselves, padding their bellies with food.

28 But they will live in ruined towns, deserted houses, crumbling to rubble.

29 They will not stay rich, their wealth will not last, and their possessions will not spread across the land.

30 They will not escape the darkness. Flames will dry up their branches, and God’s breath will blow them away.

31 Let them not trust in emptiness, deceiving themselves, for emptiness will be their reward.

32 It will be paid to them before their time; their branches will not get green.

33 They will drop their grapes like a vine too early, shed their blossoms like an olive tree.

34 The company of the godless is barren, and fire eats up the tents of bribery.

35 They conceive trouble, give birth to evil, and their womb prepares lies.”