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Eliphaz: Job Does Not Fear God

¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:² “Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?³ Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?⁴ But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him.⁵ For your iniquity instructs your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.⁶ Your own mouth condemns you, not mine; your own lips testify against you.⁷ Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?⁸ Do you listen in on God's council or limit wisdom to yourself?⁹ What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us?¹⁰ Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side—men much older than your father.¹¹ Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?¹² Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,¹³ as you turn your spirit against God and pour such words out of your mouth?¹⁴ What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?¹⁵ If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,¹⁶ how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?

¹⁷ Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,¹⁸ what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers,¹⁹ to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them:²⁰ A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.²¹ Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.²² He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword.²³ He wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.²⁴ Distress and anguish terrify him, overwhelming him like a king poised to attack.²⁵ For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,²⁶ rushing headlong at Him with his thick, studded shield.²⁷ Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh,²⁸ he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to crumble.²⁹ He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land.³⁰ He will not escape from the darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.³¹ Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.³² It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish.³³ He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms.³⁴ For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery.³⁵ They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”