Job Chapter 15

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.