Eliphaz's Second Speech
If You Had Any Sense
1 Eliphaz from Teman said:
* 2 Job, if you had any sense,
3 you would stop spreading
all of this hot air.
4 Your words are enough
to make others turn from God
and lead them to doubt.
5 And your sinful, scheming mind
is the source of all you say.
6 I am not here as your judge;
your own words are witnesses
against you.
7 Were you the first human?
Are you older than the hills?
8 Have you ever been present
when God's council meets?
Do you alone have wisdom?
9 Do you know and understand
something we don't?
10 We have the benefit of wisdom
older than your father.
11 And you have been offered
comforting words from God.
Isn't this enough?
12 Your emotions are out of control,
making you look fierce;
13 that's why you attack God
with everything you say.
14 No human is pure and innocent,
15 and neither are angels—
not in the sight of God.
If God doesn't trust his angels,
16 what chance do humans have?
We are so terribly evil
that we thirst for sin.
Just Listen to What I Know
17 Just listen to what I know,
and you will learn
18 wisdom known by others
since ancient times.
19 Those who gained such insights
also gained the land,
and they were not influenced
by foreign teachings.
20 But suffering is in store
each day for those who sin.
21 Even in times of success,
they constantly hear
the threat of doom.
22 Darkness, despair, and death
are their destiny.
23 They scrounge around for food,
all the while dreading
the approaching darkness.
24 They are overcome with despair,
like frightened soldiers facing
a fearsome king in battle.
25 This is because they rebelled
against God All-Powerful
26 and have attacked him
with their weapons.
27 They may be rich and fat,
28 but they will live in the ruins
of deserted towns.
29 Their property and wealth
will shrink and disappear.
30 They won't escape the darkness,
and the blazing breath of God
will set their future aflame.
* 31 They have put their trust
in something worthless;
now they will become worthless
32 like a date palm tree
without a leaf.
33 Or like vineyards or orchards
whose blossoms and unripe fruit
drop to the ground.
34 Yes, the godless and the greedy
will have nothing but flames
feasting on their homes,
35 because they are the parents
of trouble and vicious lies.
1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and saide, 2 Shal a wise man speake words of ye winde, and fill his bellie with the East winde? 3 Shall he dispute with wordes not comely? or with talke that is not profitable? 4 Surely thou hast cast off feare, and restrainest prayer before God. 5 For thy mouth declareth thine iniquitie, seeing thou hast chosen ye tongue of the crafty. 6 Thine owne mouth condemneth thee, and not I, and thy lippes testifie against thee. 7 Art thou the first man, that was borne? and wast thou made before the hils? 8 Hast thou heard the secret counsell of God, and doest thou restraine wisedome to thee? 9 What knowest thou that we knowe not? and vnderstandest that is not in vs? 10 With vs are both auncient and very aged men, farre older then thy father. 11 Seeme the consolations of God small vnto thee? is this thing strange vnto thee? 12 Why doeth thine heart take thee away, and what doe thine eyes meane, 13 That thou answerest to God at thy pleasure, and bringest such wordes out of thy mouth? 14 What is man, that he should be cleane? and he that is borne of woman, that he shoulde be iust? 15 Beholde, he founde no stedfastnesse in his Saintes: yea, the heauens are not cleane in his sight. 16 How much more is man abominable, and filthie, which drinketh iniquitie like water? 17 I will tell thee: heare me, and I will declare that which I haue seene: 18 Which wise men haue tolde, as they haue heard of their fathers, and haue not kept it secret: 19 To whome alone the land was giuen and no stranger passed through them. 20 The wicked man is continually as one that traueileth of childe, and the nomber of yeeres is hid from the tyrant. 21 A sounde of feare is in his eares, and in his prosperitie the destroyer shall come vpon him. 22 He beleeueth not to returne out of darknesse: for he seeth the sworde before him. 23 He wandreth to and from for bread where he may: he knoweth that the day of darkenesse is prepared at hande. 24 Affliction and anguish shall make him afraide: they shall preuaile against him as a King readie to the battell. 25 For he hath stretched out his hand against GOD, and made him selfe strong against the Almightie. 26 Therefore God shall runne vpon him, euen vpon his necke, and against the most thicke part of his shielde. 27 Because he hath couered his face with his fatnesse, and hath colloppes in his flancke. 28 Though he dwell in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, but are become heapes, 29 He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof in the earth. 30 He shall neuer depart out of darkenesse: the flame shall drie vp his branches, and he shall goe away with the breath of his mouth. 31 He beleeueth not that he erreth in vanitie: therefore vanitie shalbe his change. 32 His branch shall not be greene, but shall be cut off before his day. 33 God shall destroy him as the vine her sower grape, and shall cast him off, as the oliue doeth her flowre. 34 For the congregation of the hypocrite shalbe desolate, and fire shall deuoure the houses of bribes. 35 For they conceiue mischiefe and bring foorth vanitie, and their bellie hath prepared deceite.