Job 15:7–16

“Are you the first man who was born?

Or were you brought forth before the hills?

Have you listened in the council of God?

And do you limit wisdom to yourself?

What do you know that we do not know?

What do you understand that is not clear to us?

Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us,

older than your father.

Are the comforts of God too small for you,

or the word that deals gently with you?

Why does your heart carry you away,

and why do your eyes flash,

that you turn your spirit against God

and bring such words out of your mouth?

What is man, that he can be pure?

Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?

Behold, God puts no trust in his holy ones,

and the heavens are not pure in his sight;

how much less one who is abominable and corrupt,

a man who drinks injustice like water!

“Are you the first man ever born?

Were you brought forth before the hills?

Do you listen in on God’s council?

Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?

What do you know that we do not know?

What insights do you have that we do not have?

The gray-haired and the aged are on our side,

men even older than your father.

Are God’s consolations not enough for you,

words spoken gently to you?

Why has your heart carried you away,

and why do your eyes flash,

so that you vent your rage against God

and pour out such words from your mouth?

“What are mortals, that they could be pure,

or those born of woman, that they could be righteous?

If God places no trust in his holy ones,

if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,

how much less mortals, who are vile and corrupt,

who drink up evil like water!

Were you the first human ever born,

or were you brought forth before the hills?

Do you listen in on the council of God,

or have a monopoly on wisdom?

What do you know that we don’t?

What do you understand that is not clear to us?

Both the gray-haired and the elderly are with us—

older than your father.

Are God’s consolations not enough for you,

even the words that deal gently with you?

Why has your heart misled you,

and why do your eyes flash

as you turn your anger against God

and allow such words to leave your mouth?

What is a mere human, that he should be pure,

or one born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

If God puts no trust in his holy ones

and the heavens are not pure in his sight,

how much less one who is revolting and corrupt,

who drinks injustice like water?

“Were you the first person ever born?

Were you born before the hills were made?

Were you listening at God’s secret council?

Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?

What do you know that we don’t?

What do you understand that we do not?

On our side are aged, gray-haired men

much older than your father!

“Is God’s comfort too little for you?

Is his gentle word not enough?

What has taken away your reason?

What has weakened your vision,

that you turn against God

and say all these evil things?

Can any mortal be pure?

Can anyone born of a woman be just?

Look, God does not even trust the angels.

Even the heavens are not absolutely pure in his sight.

How much less pure is a corrupt and sinful person

with a thirst for wickedness!

“Were you born the firstborn of the human race?

And were you brought forth before the hills?

Have you listened in God’s confidential discussion?

And do you limit wisdom to yourself?

What do you know that we do not know?

What do you understand that is not clear to us?

Both the gray-haired and the old are among us—

those older than your father.

“Are the consolations of God too small for you,

a word spoken gently with you?

Why does your heart carry you away?

And why do your eyes flash,

that you turn your spirit against God,

and you let such words go out of your mouth?

“What is a human being, that he can be clean,

or that one born of a woman can be righteous?

Look, he does not trust his holy ones,

and the heavens are not clean in his eyes.

How much less he who is abominable and corrupt,

a man drinking wickedness like water.

Art thou the first man that was born?

Or wast thou made before the hills?

Hast thou heard the secret of God?

And dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?

What knowest thou, that we know not?

What understandest thou, which is not in us?

With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men,

Much elder than thy father.

Are the consolations of God small with thee?

Is there any secret thing with thee?

Why doth thine heart carry thee away?

And what do thy eyes wink at,

That thou turnest thy spirit against God,

And lettest such words go out of thy mouth?

What is man, that he should be clean?

And he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints;

Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

How much more abominable and filthy

Is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?