Eliphaz returns to the charge against Job, and describes the wretched state of the wicked.

¹ But Eliphaz the Themanite, answering, said:

² Will a wise man answer as if he were speaking wind, and will he fill his stomach with fire?

³ You rebuke with words he who is not equal to you, and you speak what is not expedient for you,

⁴ to such an extent that, within yourself, you have expelled reverence and have taken away prayers from the presence of God.¹²

1. 15:4The word ‘timorem’ is usually translated as fear or dread, but in this context it means ‘fear of God’ or ‘reverence.’(Conte)
2. 15:4you have made void fear: That is, cast off the fear of offending God.(Challoner)

⁵ For your iniquity has mislead your mouth, and you imitate the tongue of blasphemers.

⁶ Your own mouth will condemn you, not I; and your own lips will answer you.

⁷ Are you the first man who was born, or were you formed before the hills?

⁸ Have you heard the intentions of God, and will his wisdom be inferior to you?

⁹ What do you know, about which we are ignorant? What do you understand that we do not know?

¹⁰ There are with us both aged and ancient men, even more senior than your fathers.

¹¹ Is it so important that God should console you? But your own depraved words prevent this.

¹² Why does your heart exalt you, and why do you gaze with your eyes, as if thinking great things?

¹³ Why does your spirit stir against God, so as to utter such speeches from your mouth?

¹⁴ What is man that he should be immaculate, and that he should appear just, having been born of woman?

¹⁵ Behold, among his holy ones not one is immutable, and even the heavens are not pure in his sight.

¹⁶ How much more abominable and useless is the man who drinks as if from the water of iniquity?

¹⁷ I will reveal to you, so listen to me; and I will explain to you what I have seen.

¹⁸ The wise acknowledge, and they do not leave behind, their fathers,¹

1. 15:18Wise 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.(Challoner)

¹⁹ to whom alone the earth has been given, and no stranger passed among them.

²⁰ The impious is arrogant for all his days, and the number of the years of his tyranny is uncertain.

²¹ The sound of terror is always in his ears; and when there is peace, he always suspects treason.

²² He does not believe that it is possible for him to be turned from darkness into the light, for he sees around him the sword on every side.

²³ When he moves himself to seek bread, he knows that the day of darkness has been prepared for his hand.

²⁴ Tribulation will terrify him, and anguish will prevail over him, like a king who is being prepared to go to battle.

²⁵ For he has extended his hand against God, and he has strengthened himself against the Almighty.

²⁶ He has rushed against him with his throat exposed, and he has been armed with a fat neck.

²⁷ Thickness has covered his face, and lard hangs down from his sides.

²⁸ He has lived in desolate cities and deserted houses, which have been turned into tombs.

²⁹ He will not be enriched, nor will his basic necessities endure, nor will he establish his root in the earth.

³⁰ He will not withdraw from the darkness; the flame will burn up his branches, and he will be defeated by the breath of his own mouth.

³¹ He will not believe, being vainly deceived by error, that he could be redeemed at any price.

³² Before his time is completed, he will pass into ruin and his hands will wither away.

³³ He will be wounded like a grapevine, when its cluster is in first flower, and like an olive tree that casts off its flower.

³⁴ For the congregation of the hypocrites is fruitless, and fire will devour the tabernacles of those who love to accept money.

³⁵ He has conceived sorrow, and he has brought forth iniquity, and his womb prepares deceit.