Job 15

1And Eliphaz the Themanite, answered, and said:

2Will a wise man answer as if he were speaking in the wind, and fill his stomach with burning heat?

3Thou reprovest him by words, who is not equal to thee, and thou speakest that which is not good for thee.

4As much as is in thee, thou hast made void fear, and hast taken away prayers from before God.

5For thy iniquity hath taught thy mouth, and thou imitatest the tongue of blasphemers.

6Thy own mouth shall condemn thee, and not I: and thy own lips shall answer thee.

7Art thou the first man that was born, or wast thou made before the hills?

8Hast thou heard God’s counsel, and shall his wisdom be inferior to thee?

9What knowest thou that we are ignorant of? what dost thou understand that we know not?

10There are with us also aged and ancient men, much elder than thy fathers.

11Is it a great matter that God should comfort thee? but thy wicked words hinder this.

12Why doth thy heart elevate thee, and why dost thou stare with thy eyes, as if they were thinking great things?

13Why doth thy spirit swell against God, to utter such words out of thy mouth?

14What is man that he should be without spot, and he that is born of a woman that he should appear just?

15Behold among his saints none is unchangeable, and the heavens are not pure in his sight.

16How much more is man abominable, and unprofitable, who drinketh iniquity like water?

17I will shew thee, hear me: and I will tell thee what I have seen.

18Wise men confess and hide not their fathers.

19To whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger hath passed among them.

20The wicked man is proud all his days, and the number of the years of his tyranny is uncertain.

21The sound of dread is always in his ears: and when there is peace, he always suspecteth treason.

22He believeth not that he may return from darkness to light, looking round about for the sword on every side.

23When he moveth himself to seek bread, he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

24Tribulation shall terrify him, and distress shall surround him, as a king that is prepared for the battle.

25For he hath stretched out his hand against God, and hath strengthened himself against the Almighty.

26He hath run against him with his neck raised up, and is armed with a fat neck.

27Fatness hath covered his face, and the fat hangeth down on his sides.

28He hath dwelt in desolate cities, and in desert houses that are reduced into heaps.

29He shall not be enriched, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he push his root in the earth.

30He 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 month.

31He shall not believe, being vainly deceived by error, that he may be redeemed with any price.

32Before his days be full he shall perish: and his hands shall wither away.

33He shall be blasted as a vine when its grapes are in the first flower, and as an olive tree that casteth its flower.

34For the congregation of the hypocrite is barren, and fire shall devour their tabernacles, who love to take bribes.

35He hath conceived sorrow, and hath brought forth iniquity, and his womb prepareth deceits.

1Respondens autem Eliphaz Themanites, dixit:

2[Numquid sapiens respondebit quasi in ventum loquens, et implebit ardore stomachum suum?

3Arguis verbis eum qui non est æqualis tibi, et loqueris quod tibi non expedit.

4Quantum in te est, evacuasti timorem, et tulisti preces coram Deo.

5Docuit enim iniquitas tua os tuum, et imitaris linguam blasphemantium.

6Condemnabit te os tuum, et non ego: et labia tua respondebunt tibi.

7Numquid primus homo tu natus es, et ante colles formatus?

8numquid consilium Dei audisti, et inferior te erit ejus sapientia?

9Quid nosti quod ignoremus? quid intelligis quod nesciamus?

10Et senes et antiqui sunt in nobis, multo vetustiores quam patres tui.

11Numquid grande est ut consoletur te Deus? sed verba tua prava hoc prohibent.

12Quid te elevat cor tuum, et quasi magna cogitans attonitos habes oculos?

13Quid tumet contra Deum spiritus tuus, ut proferas de ore tuo hujuscemodi sermones?

14Quid est homo ut immaculatus sit, et ut justus appareat natus de muliere?

15Ecce inter sanctos ejus nemo immutabilis, et cæli non sunt mundi in conspectu ejus.

16Quanto magis abominabilis et inutilis homo, qui bibit quasi aquam iniquitatem?

17Ostendam tibi: audi me: quod vidi, narrabo tibi.

18Sapientes confitentur, et non abscondunt patres suos:

19quibus solis data est terra, et non transivit alienus per eos.

20Cunctis diebus suis impius superbit, et numerus annorum incertus est tyrannidis ejus.

21Sonitus terroris semper in auribus illius: et cum pax sit, ille semper insidias suspicatur.

22Non credit quod reverti possit de tenebris ad lucem, circumspectans undique gladium.

23Cum se moverit ad quærendum panem, novit quod paratus sit in manu ejus tenebrarum dies.

24Terrebit eum tribulatio, et angustia vallabit eum, sicut regem qui præparatur ad prælium.

25Tetendit enim adversus Deum manum suam, et contra Omnipotentem roboratus est.

26Cucurrit adversus eum erecto collo, et pingui cervice armatus est.

27Operuit faciem ejus crassitudo, et de lateribus ejus arvina dependet.

28Habitavit in civitatibus desolatis, et in domibus desertis, quæ in tumulos sunt redactæ.

29Non ditabitur, nec perseverabit substantia ejus, nec mittet in terra radicem suam.

30Non recedet de tenebris: ramos ejus arefaciet flamma, et auferetur spiritu oris sui.

31Non credet, frustra errore deceptus, quod aliquo pretio redimendus sit.

32Antequam dies ejus impleantur peribit, et manus ejus arescent.

33Lædetur quasi vinea in primo flore botrus ejus, et quasi oliva projiciens florem suum.

34Congregatio enim hypocritæ sterilis, et ignis devorabit tabernacula eorum qui munera libenter accipiunt.

35Concepit dolorem, et peperit iniquitatem, et uterus ejus præparat dolos.]

1But Eliphaz the Themanite, answering, said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

22He 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

30He 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.

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

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

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

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

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