Job

¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

² or fill his belly with the hot east wind?

³ with speeches that have no value?

⁴ and hinder devotion to God.

⁵ you adopt the tongue of the crafty.

⁶ your own lips testify against you.

⁷ Were you brought forth before the hills?

⁸ Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

⁹ What insights do you have that we do not have?

¹⁰ men even older than your father.

¹¹ words spoken gently to you?

¹² and why do your eyes flash,

¹³ and pour out such words from your mouth?

¹⁴ or one born of woman, that he could be righteous?

¹⁵ if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,

¹⁶ who drinks up evil like water!

¹⁷ let me tell you what I have seen,

¹⁸ hiding nothing received from their fathers

¹⁹ when no alien passed among them):

²⁰ the ruthless through all the years stored up for him.

²¹ when all seems well, marauders attack him.

²² he is marked for the sword.

²³ he knows the day of darkness is at hand.

²⁴ they overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack,

²⁵ and vaunts himself against the Almighty,

²⁶ with a thick, strong shield.

²⁷ and his waist bulges with flesh,

²⁸ and houses where no one lives, houses crumbling to rubble.

²⁹ nor will his possessions spread over the land.

³⁰ a flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.

³¹ for he will get nothing in return.

³² and his branches will not flourish.

³³ like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.

³⁴ and fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes.

³⁵ their womb fashions deceit.”