Job 15

1Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge and fill his belly with the east wind?

3Should he argue with speech that brings no advantage, or with words that profit nothing?

4Indeed, you reject fear and diminish prayer before God.

5For your iniquity instructs your mouth, and you choose the tongue of the crafty.

6Your mouth convicts you, not I, and your lips testify against you.

7Are you the first man born, or were you brought forth before the hills?

8Have you heard God's intimate counsel? Do you reserve wisdom for yourself?

9What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not with us?

10Both the gray-haired and the ancient are among us, much older than your father.

11Are God's consolations too small for you, even a gentle word with you?

12Why does your heart take you away, and why do your eyes wink?

13that you turn your spirit against God and let words like these come out of your mouth?

14How can man be pure? Or one born of woman be righteous?

15Behold, he does not trust his holy ones; the heavens are not pure in his eyes.

16How much more abominable and filthy is a man who drinks iniquity like water!

17I will show you; listen to me—what I have seen I will declare.

18which wise men have declared from their fathers and have not concealed

19The land was given to them alone, and no stranger passed among them.

20All the days of the wicked he writhes, and the number of years lies hidden for the oppressor.

21Sounds of dread ring in his ears; even in peace the destroyer comes upon him.

22He does not believe he will return from darkness, and the sword waits and watches for him.

23He wanders for bread—where is it?—knowing the day of darkness stands ready at his hand.

24Distress and anguish terrify him; they overpower him like a king ready for battle.

25Because he has extended his hand against God and makes himself strong against the Almighty.

26He rushes at him with a stiff neck, with the thick bosses of his shields.

27because he covered his face with his fat and made fat folds on his flanks.

28He dwells in desolate cities, in houses no one inhabits, which were ready to become heaps.

29He will not become rich, nor will his wealth endure, nor will he extend their possessions over the earth.

30He will not turn aside from darkness; flame will dry up his branch, and by the breath of his mouth he will depart.

31Let him not trust in emptiness; he goes astray in emptiness, for emptiness will be his recompense.

32It will be completed before his time, and his branch will not flourish.

33He will shake off his unripe grape like a vine and cast off his flower like an olive tree.

34For the assembly of hypocrites lies desolate, and fire consumes the tents of bribery.

35They conceive trouble and bear evil, and their bellies prepare deceit.