[1] Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, [2] "Should a wise man answer with
vain knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind? [3] Should he
reason with unprofitable talk, Or with speeches with which he can do no
good? [4] Yes, you do away with fear, And hinder devotion before God.
[5] For your iniquity teaches your mouth, And you choose the language of
the crafty. [6] Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; Yes, your own
lips testify against you. [7] "Are you the first man who was born? Or
were you brought forth before the hills? [8] Have you heard the secret
counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself? [9] What do you know,
that we don`t know? What do you understand, which is not in us? [10]
With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, Much elder than
your father. [11] Are the consolations of God too small for you, Even
the word that is gentle toward you? [12] Why does your heart carry you
away? Why do your eyes flash, [13] That you turn your spirit against
God, And let such words go out of your mouth? [14] What is man, that he
should be clean? He who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
[15] Behold, he puts no trust in his holy ones; Yes, the heavens are not
clean in his sight: [16] How much less one who is abominable and corrupt,
A man who drinks iniquity like water! [17] "I will show you, listen to me;
That which I have seen I will declare: [18] (Which wise men have told
From their fathers, and have not hidden it; [19] To whom alone the land was
given, And no stranger passed among them): [20] The wicked man travails
with pain all his days, Even the number of years that are laid up for
the oppressor. [21] A sound of terrors is in his ears; In prosperity the
destroyer shall come on him. [22] He doesn`t believe that he shall return
out of darkness, He is waited for by the sword. [23] He wanders abroad
for bread, saying, `Where is it?` He knows that the day of darkness is
ready at his hand. [24] Distress and anguish make him afraid; They
prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle. [25] Because he has
stretched out his hand against God, And behaves himself proudly against
the Almighty; [26] He runs at him with a stiff neck, With the thick
shields of his bucklers; [27] Because he has covered his face with his
fatness, And gathered fat on his loins. [28] He has lived in desolate
cities, In houses which no one inhabited, Which were ready to become
heaps. [29] He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue,
Neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth. [30] He shall not
depart out of darkness; The flame shall dry up his branches, By the
breath of God`s mouth shall he go away. [31] Let him not trust in
emptiness, deceiving himself; For emptiness shall be his reward. [32] It
shall be accomplished before his time. His branch shall not be green.
[33] He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, And shall cast off
his flower as the olive-tree. [34] For the company of the godless shall be
barren, And fire shall consume the tents of bribery. [35] They conceive
mischief, and bring forth iniquity. Their heart prepares deceit."
