2 “Would a wise person answer with empty notions

or fill their belly with the hot east wind?

3 Would they argue with useless words,

with speeches that have no value?

4 But you even undermine piety

and hinder devotion to God.

5 Your sin prompts your mouth;

you adopt the tongue of the crafty.

6 Your own mouth condemns you, not mine;

your own lips testify against you.

2 Should a wise man utter vain knowledge,

And fill his belly with the east wind?

3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk?

Or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?

4 Yea, thou castest off fear,

And restrainest prayer before God.

5 For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity,

And thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I:

Yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

2 “A wise man wouldn’t answer with such empty talk!

You are nothing but a windbag.

3 The wise don’t engage in empty chatter.

What good are such words?

4 Have you no fear of God,

no reverence for him?

5 Your sins are telling your mouth what to say.

Your words are based on clever deception.

6 Your own mouth condemns you, not I.

Your own lips testify against you.

2 “Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge,

And fill himself with the east wind?

3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk,

Or by speeches with which he can do no good?

4 Yes, you cast off fear,

And restrain prayer before God.

5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,

And you choose the tongue of the crafty.

6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;

Yes, your own lips testify against you.

2 “A wise person would not answer with empty words

or fill his stomach with the hot east wind.

3 He would not argue with useless words

or make speeches that have no value.

4 But you even destroy respect for God

and limit the worship of him.

5 Your sin teaches your mouth what to say;

you use words to trick others.

6 It is your own mouth, not mine, that shows you are wicked;

your own lips testify against you.

2 Should a wise man make answer with vain knowledge,

And fill himself with the east wind?

3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk,

Or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?

4 Yea, thou doest away with fear,

And hinderest devotion before God.

5 For thine iniquity teacheth thy mouth,

And thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I;

Yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

2 Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind, 3 Reasoning with unprofitable talk, and with speeches which do no good? 4 Yea, thou makest piety of none effect, and restrainest meditation before •God. 5 For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou hast chosen the tongue of the crafty. 6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I; and thy lips testify against thee.

2 “Should a wise person answer with endless details 

and fill his stomach with the east wind? 

3 Should he argue with words that don’t help, 

with speeches that don’t help ⸤anyone⸥? 

4 Yes, you destroy the fear ⸤of God⸥ 

and diminish devotion to God. 

5 Your sin teaches you what to say. 

You choose ⸤to talk with⸥ a sly tongue. 

6 Your ⸤own⸥ mouth condemns you, not I. 

Your lips testify against you. 

2 Does a wise man answer with empty counsel

or fill himself with the hot east wind?

3 Should he argue with useless talk

or with words that serve no good purpose?

4 But you even undermine the fear of God

and hinder meditation before Him.

5 Your iniquity teaches you what to say,

and you choose the language of the crafty.

6 Your own mouth condemns you, not I;

your own lips testify against you.

2 “Should the wise answer with windy knowledge,

and fill themselves with the east wind?

3 Should they argue in unprofitable talk,

or in words with which they can do no good?

4 But you are doing away with the fear of God,

and hindering meditation before God.

5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,

and you choose the tongue of the crafty.

6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;

your own lips testify against you.

2 “Should the wise answer with windy knowledge,

and should he fill his stomach with the east wind?

3 Should he argue in talk that is not profitable

or in words with which he cannot do good?

4 “What is worse, you yourself are doing away with fear,

and you are lessening meditation before God.

5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,

and you choose the tongue of the crafty.

6 Your mouth condemns you, and not I;

and your lips testify against you.

2 “Job, if you were wise,

would you answer us with a lot of meaningless talk?

Would you fill your stomach with the hot east wind?

3 Would you argue with useless words?

Would you give worthless speeches?

4 But you even cause others to lose their respect for God.

You make it hard for them to be faithful to him.

5 Your sin makes you say evil things.

You talk like people who twist the truth.

6 Your own mouth judges you, not mine.

Your own lips witness against you.

2 “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge

And fill himself with the east wind?

3 “Should he argue with useless talk,

Or with words which are not profitable?

4 “Indeed, you do away with reverence

And hinder meditation before God.

5 “For your guilt teaches your mouth,

And you choose the language of the crafty.

6 “Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;

And your own lips testify against you.