1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

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

3 S hould he reason with unprofitable talk, Or by speeches with which he can do no good?

4 Y es, you cast off fear, And restrain prayer before God.

5 F or your iniquity teaches your mouth, And you choose the tongue of the crafty.

6 Y our own mouth condemns you, and not I; Yes, your own lips testify against you.

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

8 H ave you heard the counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

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

10 B oth the gray-haired and the aged are among us, Much older than your father.

11 A re the consolations of God too small for you, And the word spoken gently with you?

12 W hy does your heart carry you away, And what do your eyes wink at,

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

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

15 I f God puts no trust in His saints, And the heavens are not pure in His sight,

16 H ow much less man, who is abominable and filthy, Who drinks iniquity like water!

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

18 W hat 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:

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

21 D readful sounds are in his ears; In prosperity the destroyer comes upon him.

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

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

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

25 F or he stretches out his hand against God, And acts defiantly against the Almighty,

26 R unning stubbornly against Him With his strong, embossed shield.

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

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

29 H e will not be rich, Nor will his wealth continue, Nor will his possessions overspread the earth.

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

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

32 I t will be accomplished before his time, And his branch will not be green.

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

34 F or the company of hypocrites will be barren, And fire will consume the tents of bribery.

35 T hey conceive trouble and bring forth futility; Their womb prepares deceit.”