The Second Speech of Eliphaz
1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied,
2“Job, would a wise person answer with a lot of meaningless talk?
Would they fill their stomach with the hot east wind?
3Would they argue with useless words?
Would they give worthless speeches?
4But you even cause others to lose their respect for God.
You make it hard for them to be faithful to him.
5Your sin makes you say evil things.
You talk like people who twist the truth.
6Your own mouth judges you, not mine.
Your own lips witness against you.
7“Are you the first man who was ever born?
Were you created before the hills?
8Do you listen in when God speaks with his angels?
Do you think you are the only wise person?
9What do you know that we don’t know?
What understanding do you have that we don’t have?
10People who are old and gray are on our side.
And they are even older than your parents!
11Aren’t God’s words of comfort enough for you?
He speaks them to you gently.
12Why have you let your wild ideas carry you away?
Why do your eyes flash with anger?
13Why do you get so angry with God?
Why do words like those pour out of your mouth?
14“Can human beings really be pure?
Can those who are born really be right with God?
15God doesn’t trust his holy angels.
Even the heavens aren’t pure in his sight.
16So he’ll certainly find fault with human beings.
After all, they are evil and sinful.
They drink up evil as if it were water.
17“Listen to me. I’ll explain things to you.
Let me tell you what I’ve seen.
18I’ll tell you what those who are wise have said.
They don’t hide anything they’ve received
from their people of long ago.
19The land was given only to those people.
Their wisdom didn’t come from outsiders.
And here’s what those who are wise have said.
20Sinful people always suffer pain.
Mean people suffer all their lives.
21Terrifying sounds fill their ears.
When everything seems to be going well,
robbers attack them.
22They lose all hope of escaping the darkness of death.
They will certainly be killed by swords.
23Like vultures, they look around for food.
They know that the day they will die is near.
24Suffering and pain terrify them.
Their troubles overpower them,
like a king ready to attack his enemies.
25They shake their fists at God.
They brag about themselves and oppose the Mighty One.
26They boldly charge against him
with their thick, strong shields.
27“Their faces are very fat.
Their stomachs hang out.
28They’ll live in towns that have been destroyed.
They’ll live in houses where no one else lives.
The houses will crumble to pieces.
29They won’t be rich anymore. Their wealth won’t last.
Their property will no longer spread out over the land.
30They won’t escape the darkness of death.
A flame will dry up everything they have.
The breath of God will blow them away.
31Don’t let them fool themselves
by trusting in what is worthless.
They won’t get anything out of it.
32Even before they die, they will dry up.
No matter what they do, it won’t succeed.
33They’ll be like vines
that are stripped of their unripe grapes.
They’ll be like olive trees
that drop their flowers.
34People who are ungodly won’t have any children.
Fire will burn up the tents of people who accept money
from those who want special favors.
35Instead of having children,
ungodly people create suffering.
All they produce is evil.
They are full of lies.”
以利法再次发言
1提幔人以利法回答说：
2“智者岂会用空谈作答，
满腹东风？
3申辩时岂会讲无用的话，
说无益之言？
4你摒弃对上帝的敬畏，
拒绝向祂祷告。
5你的罪指示你开口，
使你说出诡诈之言。
6并非我定你的罪，
定你罪的是你的口，
指控你的是你的嘴唇。
7你岂是第一个出生的人？
你岂在群山之前被造？
8你岂听过上帝的密旨？
你岂独揽智慧？
9有何事你知而我们不知，
你懂而我们不懂？
10我们这里有白发老人，
比你父亲还年长。
11上帝用温柔的话安慰你，
难道你还嫌不够吗？
12你为何失去理智，
为何双眼冒火，
13以致你向上帝发怒，
口出恶言？
14人算什么，怎能纯洁？
妇人所生的算什么，怎能公义？
15连上帝的圣者都无法令祂信任，
连诸天在祂的眼中都不洁净，
16更何况可憎败坏、
嗜恶如喝水的世人？
17“让我告诉你，你好好听着。
我要把所见的陈明——
18那是智者的教导，
是他们未曾隐瞒的祖训。
19这片土地只赐给了他们，
没有外人在他们中间出入。
20恶人一生受折磨，
残暴之徒终身受苦。
21他耳边响着恐怖的声音，
他安逸时遭强盗袭击。
22他不指望能逃脱黑暗，
他注定要丧身刀下。
23他到处流浪，寻找食物，
他知道黑暗之日快要来临。
24患难和痛苦使他害怕，
像君王上阵一样震慑他。
25因为他挥拳对抗上帝，
藐视全能者，
26拿着坚盾傲慢地挑战祂。
27他满脸肥肉，
腰间堆满脂肪。
28他住的城邑必倾覆，
他的房屋必成为一堆瓦砾，
无人居住。
29他不再富足，
家财不能久留，
地产无法加增。
30他无法逃脱黑暗，
火焰要烧焦他的嫩枝，
上帝口中的气要毁灭他。
31他不可自欺，信靠虚空，
因为虚空必成为他的回报。
32在他离世以前，虚空必临到他，
他的枝子再不会青绿。
33他必像一颗葡萄树，
葡萄未熟已掉落；
又像一颗橄榄树，
花刚开便凋零。
34不信上帝之辈必不生育，
受贿者的帐篷必被火烧。
35他们心怀不轨，生出罪恶，
他们满腹诡诈。”
