Eliphaz returns to the charge against Job, and describes the wretched
state of the wicked.
15:1. And Eliphaz the Themanite, answered, and said:
15:2. Will a wise man answer as if he were speaking in the wind, and
fill his stomach with burning heat?
15:3. Thou reprovest him by words, who is not equal to thee, and thou
speakest that which is not good for thee.
15:4. As much as is in thee, thou hast made void fear, and hast taken
away prayers from before God.
Thou hast made void fear. . .That is, cast off the fear of offending
God.
15:5. For thy iniquity hath taught thy mouth, and thou imitatest the
tongue of blasphemers.
15:6. Thy own mouth shall condemn thee, and not I: and thy own lips
shall answer thee.
15:7. Art thou the first man that was born, or wast thou made before
the hills?
15:8. Hast thou heard God's counsel, and shall his wisdom be inferior
to thee?
15:9. What knowest thou that we are ignorant of? what dost thou
understand that we know not?
15:10. There are with us also aged and ancient men, much elder than thy
fathers.
15:11. Is it a great matter that God should comfort thee? but thy
wicked words hinder this.
15:12. Why doth thy heart elevate thee, and why dost thou stare with
thy eyes, as if they were thinking great things?
15:13. Why doth thy spirit swell against God, to utter such words out
of thy mouth?
15:14. What is man that he should be without spot, and he that is born
of a woman that he should appear just?
15:15. Behold among his saints none is unchangeable, and the heavens
are not pure in his sight.
15:16. How much more is man abominable, and unprofitable, who drinketh
iniquity like water?
15:17. I will shew thee, hear me: and I will tell thee what I have
seen.
15:18. Wise men confess and hide not their fathers.
Wise men confess and hide not their fathers. . .That is, the knowledge
and documents they have received from their fathers they are not
ashamed to own.
15:19. To whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger hath passed
among them.
15:20. The wicked man is proud all his days, and the number of the
years of his tyranny is uncertain.
15:21. The sound of dread is always in his ears: and when there is
peace, he always suspecteth treason.
15:22. He believeth not that he may return from darkness to light,
looking round about for the sword on every side.
15:23. When he moveth himself to seek bread, he knoweth that the day of
darkness is ready at his hand.
15:24. Tribulation shall terrify him, and distress shall surround him,
as a king that is prepared for the battle.
15:25. For he hath stretched out his hand against God, and hath
strengthened himself against the Almighty.
15:26. He hath run against him with his neck raised up, and is armed
with a fat neck.
15:27. Fatness hath covered his face, and the fat hangeth down on his
sides.
15:28. He hath dwelt in desolate cities, and in desert houses that are
reduced into heaps.
15:29. He shall not be enriched, neither shall his substance continue,
neither shall he push his root in the earth.
15:30. He shall not depart out of darkness: the flame shall dry up his
branches, and he shall be taken away by the breath of his own mouth.
15:31. He shall not believe, being vainly deceived by error, that he
may be redeemed with any price.
15:32. Before his days be full he shall perish: and his hands shall
wither away.
15:33. He shall be blasted as a vine when its grapes are in the first
flower, and as an olive tree that casteth its flower.
15:34. For the congregation of the hypocrite is barren, and fire shall
devour their tabernacles, who love to take bribes.
15:35. He hath conceived sorrow, and hath brought forth iniquity, and
his womb prepareth deceits.