The Second Speech of Eliphaz

15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied,

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.

7 “Are you the first man who was ever born?

Were you created before the hills?

8 Do you listen in when God speaks with his angels?

Do you think you are the only wise person?

9 What do you know that we don’t know?

What understanding do you have that we don’t have?

10 People who are old and gray are on our side.

And they are even older than your parents!

11 Aren’t God’s words of comfort enough for you?

He speaks them to you gently.

12 Why have you let your wild ideas carry you away?

Why do your eyes flash with anger?

13 Why do you get so angry with God?

Why do words like those pour out of your mouth?

14 “Can human beings really be pure?

Can mere men really be right with God?

15 God doesn’t trust his holy angels.

Even the heavens aren’t pure in his sight.

16 So he’ll certainly find fault with human beings.

After all, they are evil and sinful.

They drink up evil as if it were water.

17 “Listen to me. I’ll explain things to you.

Let me tell you what I’ve seen.

18 I’ll tell you what those who are wise have said.

They don’t hide anything they’ve received

from their people of long ago.

19 The land was given only to those people.

Their wisdom didn’t come from outsiders.

And here’s what those who are wise have said.

20 Sinful people always suffer pain.

Mean people suffer all their lives.

21 Terrifying sounds fill their ears.

When everything seems to be going well,

robbers attack them.

22 They lose all hope of escaping the darkness of death.

They will certainly be killed with swords.

23 They wander around. They are like food for vultures.

They know that the day they will die is near.

24 Suffering and pain terrify them.

Their troubles overpower them,

like a king ready to attack his enemies.

25 They shake their fists at God.

They brag about themselves and oppose the Mighty One.

26 They boldly charge against him

with their thick, strong shields.

27 “Their faces are very fat.

Their stomachs hang out.

28 They’ll live in towns that have been destroyed.

They’ll live in houses where no one else lives.

The houses will crumble to pieces.

29 They won’t be rich anymore. Their wealth won’t last.

Their property will no longer spread out over the land.

30 They won’t escape the darkness of death.

A flame will dry up everything they have.

The breath of God will blow them away.

31 Don’t let them fool themselves

by trusting in what is worthless.

They won’t get anything out of it.

32 Even before they die, they’ll be paid back in full.

No matter what they do, it won’t succeed.

33 They’ll be like vines

that are stripped of their unripe grapes.

They’ll be like olive trees

that drop their flowers.

34 People who are ungodly won’t have any children.

Fire will burn up the tents of people who accept money

from those who want special favors.

35 Instead of having children,

ungodly people create suffering.

All they produce is evil.

They are full of lies.”