1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

2 “ Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge And fill himself with the east wind?

“Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind?

3 “ Should he argue with useless talk, Or with words which are not profitable?

Should he reason with unprofitable talk, Or by speeches with which he can do no good?

4 “ Indeed, you do away with reverence And hinder meditation before God.

Yes, you cast off fear, And restrain prayer before God.

5 “ For your guilt teaches your mouth, And you choose the language of the crafty.

For your iniquity teaches your mouth, And you choose the tongue of the crafty.

6 “ Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; And your own lips testify against you.

Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; Yes, your own lips testify against you.

7 “ Were you the first man to be born, Or were you brought forth before the hills?

“ Are you the first man who was born? Or were you made before the hills?

8 “ Do you hear the secret counsel of God, And limit wisdom to yourself?

Have you heard the counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

9 “ What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that we do not?

What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not in us?

10 “ Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, Older than your father.

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, Even the word spoken gently with you?

Are the consolations of God too small for you, And the word spoken gently with you?

12 “ Why does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes flash,

Why does your heart carry you away, And what do your eyes wink at,

13 T hat you should turn your spirit against God And allow such words to go out of your mouth?

That you turn your spirit against God, And let such words go out of your mouth?

14 “ What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

“What is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?

15 “ Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones, And the heavens are not pure in His sight;

If God puts no trust in His saints, And the heavens are not pure in His sight,

16 H ow much less one who is detestable and corrupt, Man, who drinks iniquity like water! What Eliphaz Has Seen of Life

How much less man, who is abominable and filthy, Who drinks iniquity like water!

17 “ I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare;

“I will tell you, hear me; What I have seen I will declare,

18 W hat wise men have told, And have not concealed from their fathers,

What wise men have told, Not hiding anything received from their fathers,

19 T o whom alone the land was given, And no alien passed among them.

To whom alone the land was given, And no alien passed among them:

20 “ The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, And numbered are the years stored up for the ruthless.

The wicked man writhes with pain all his days, And the number of years is hidden from the oppressor.

21 “ Sounds of terror are in his ears; While at peace the destroyer comes upon him.

Dreadful sounds are in his ears; In prosperity the destroyer comes upon him.

22 “ He does not believe that he will return from darkness, And he is destined for the sword.

He does not believe that he will return from darkness, For a sword is waiting for him.

23 “ He wanders about for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is at hand.

He wanders about for bread, saying, ‘Where is it? ’ He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand.

24 “ Distress and anguish terrify him, They overpower him like a king ready for the attack,

Trouble and anguish make him afraid; They overpower him, like a king ready for battle.

25 B ecause he has stretched out his hand against God And conducts himself arrogantly against the Almighty.

For he stretches out his hand against God, And acts defiantly against the Almighty,

26 “ He rushes headlong at Him With his massive shield.

Running stubbornly against Him With his strong, embossed shield.

27 “ For he has covered his face with his fat And made his thighs heavy with flesh.

“Though he has covered his face with his fatness, And made his waist heavy with fat,

28 “ He has lived in desolate cities, In houses no one would inhabit, Which are destined to become ruins.

He dwells in desolate cities, In houses which no one inhabits, Which are destined to become ruins.

29 “ He will not become rich, nor will his wealth endure; And his grain will not bend down to the ground.

He will not be rich, Nor will his wealth continue, Nor will his possessions overspread the earth.

30 “ He will not escape from darkness; The flame will wither his shoots, And by the breath of His mouth he will go away.

He will not depart from darkness; The flame will dry out his branches, And by the breath of His mouth he will go away.

31 “ Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; For emptiness will be his reward.

Let him not trust in futile things, deceiving himself, For futility will be his reward.

32 “ It will be accomplished before his time, And his palm branch will not be green.

It will be accomplished before his time, And his branch will not be green.

33 “ He will drop off his unripe grape like the vine, And will cast off his flower like the olive tree.

He will shake off his unripe grape like a vine, And cast off his blossom like an olive tree.

34 “ For the company of the godless is barren, And fire consumes the tents of the corrupt.

For the company of hypocrites will be barren, And fire will consume the tents of bribery.

35 “ They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity, And their mind prepares deception.”

They conceive trouble and bring forth futility; Their womb prepares deceit.”