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.”
