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Eliphaz's Second Speech

If You Had Any Sense

15 Eliphaz from Teman[a] said:
* Job, if you had any sense,
you would stop spreading
    all of this hot air.
Your words are enough
to make others turn from God
    and lead them to doubt.
And your sinful, scheming mind
    is the source of all you say.
I am not here as your judge;
your own words are witnesses
    against you.

Were you the first human?
    Are you older than the hills?
Have you ever been present
when God's council[b] meets?
    Do you alone have wisdom?
Do you know and understand
    something we don't?
10 We have the benefit of wisdom
    older than your father.
11 And you have been offered
comforting words from God.
    Isn't this enough?

12 Your emotions are out of control,
    making you look fierce;
13 that's why you attack God
    with everything you say.
14 (A) No human is pure and innocent,
15 and neither are angels—
    not in the sight of God.
If God doesn't trust his angels,
16     what chance do humans have?
We are so terribly evil
    that we thirst for sin.

Just Listen to What I Know

17 Just listen to what I know,
    and you will learn
18 wisdom known by others
    since ancient times.
19 Those who gained such insights
    also gained the land,
and they were not influenced
    by foreign teachings.
20 But suffering is in store
    each day for those who sin.
21 Even in times of success,
they constantly hear
    the threat of doom.
22 Darkness, despair, and death
    are their destiny.
23 They scrounge around for food,
all the while dreading
    the approaching darkness.
24 They are overcome with despair,
like frightened soldiers facing
    a fearsome king in battle.
25 This is because they rebelled
    against God All-Powerful
26 and have attacked him
    with their weapons.

27 They may be rich and fat,
28 but they will live in the ruins
    of deserted towns.
29 Their property and wealth
    will shrink and disappear.
30 They won't escape the darkness,
and the blazing breath of God
    will set their future aflame.
* 31 They have put their trust
    in something worthless;
now they will become worthless
32 like a date palm tree
    without a leaf.[c]
33 Or like vineyards or orchards
whose blossoms and unripe fruit
    drop to the ground.
34 Yes, the godless and the greedy
will have nothing but flames
    feasting on their homes,
35 because they are the parents
    of trouble and vicious lies.

Footnotes

  1. 15.1 Teman: See the note at 2.11.
  2. 15.8 God's council: The angels and others who gather to discuss matters with God (see 1.6; 2.1).
  3. 15.32 leaf: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 32.

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