New Living Translation | New Living Translation |
1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: | 1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: |
2“A wise man wouldn’t answer with such empty talk! You are nothing but a windbag. | 2“A wise man wouldn’t answer with such empty talk! You are nothing but a windbag. |
3The wise don’t engage in empty chatter. What good are such words? | 3The wise don’t engage in empty chatter. What good are such words? |
4Have you no fear of God, no reverence for him? | 4Have you no fear of God, no reverence for him? |
5Your sins are telling your mouth what to say. Your words are based on clever deception. | 5Your sins are telling your mouth what to say. Your words are based on clever deception. |
6Your own mouth condemns you, not I. Your own lips testify against you. | 6Your own mouth condemns you, not I. Your own lips testify against you. |
7“Were you the first person ever born? Were you born before the hills were made? | 7“Were you the first person ever born? Were you born before the hills were made? |
8Were you listening at God’s secret council? Do you have a monopoly on wisdom? | 8Were you listening at God’s secret council? Do you have a monopoly on wisdom? |
9What do you know that we don’t? What do you understand that we do not? | 9What do you know that we don’t? What do you understand that we do not? |
10On our side are aged, gray-haired men much older than your father! | 10On our side are aged, gray-haired men much older than your father! |
11“Is God’s comfort too little for you? Is his gentle word not enough? | 11“Is God’s comfort too little for you? Is his gentle word not enough? |
12What has taken away your reason? What has weakened your vision, | 12What has taken away your reason? What has weakened your vision, |
13that you turn against God and say all these evil things? | 13that you turn against God and say all these evil things? |
14Can any mortal be pure? Can anyone born of a woman be just? | 14Can any mortal be pure? Can anyone born of a woman be just? |
15Look, God does not even trust the angels. Even the heavens are not absolutely pure in his sight. | 15Look, God does not even trust the angels. Even the heavens are not absolutely pure in his sight. |
16How much less pure is a corrupt and sinful person with a thirst for wickedness! | 16How much less pure is a corrupt and sinful person with a thirst for wickedness! |
17“If you will listen, I will show you. I will answer you from my own experience. | 17“If you will listen, I will show you. I will answer you from my own experience. |
18And it is confirmed by the reports of wise men who have heard the same thing from their fathers— | 18And it is confirmed by the reports of wise men who have heard the same thing from their fathers— |
19from those to whom the land was given long before any foreigners arrived. | 19from those to whom the land was given long before any foreigners arrived. |
20“The wicked writhe in pain throughout their lives. Years of trouble are stored up for the ruthless. | 20“The wicked writhe in pain throughout their lives. Years of trouble are stored up for the ruthless. |
21The sound of terror rings in their ears, and even on good days they fear the attack of the destroyer. | 21The sound of terror rings in their ears, and even on good days they fear the attack of the destroyer. |
22They dare not go out into the darkness for fear they will be murdered. | 22They dare not go out into the darkness for fear they will be murdered. |
23They wander around, saying, ‘Where can I find bread?’ They know their day of destruction is near. | 23They wander around, saying, ‘Where can I find bread?’ They know their day of destruction is near. |
24That dark day terrifies them. They live in distress and anguish, like a king preparing for battle. | 24That dark day terrifies them. They live in distress and anguish, like a king preparing for battle. |
25For they shake their fists at God, defying the Almighty. | 25For they shake their fists at God, defying the Almighty. |
26Holding their strong shields, they defiantly charge against him. | 26Holding their strong shields, they defiantly charge against him. |
27“These wicked people are heavy and prosperous; their waists bulge with fat. | 27“These wicked people are heavy and prosperous; their waists bulge with fat. |
28But their cities will be ruined. They will live in abandoned houses that are ready to tumble down. | 28But their cities will be ruined. They will live in abandoned houses that are ready to tumble down. |
29Their riches will not last, and their wealth will not endure. Their possessions will no longer spread across the horizon. | 29Their riches will not last, and their wealth will not endure. Their possessions will no longer spread across the horizon. |
30“They will not escape the darkness. The burning sun will wither their shoots, and the breath of God will destroy them. | 30“They will not escape the darkness. The burning sun will wither their shoots, and the breath of God will destroy them. |
31Let them no longer fool themselves by trusting in empty riches, for emptiness will be their only reward. | 31Let them no longer fool themselves by trusting in empty riches, for emptiness will be their only reward. |
32They will be cut down in the prime of life; their branches will never again be green. | 32They will be cut down in the prime of life; their branches will never again be green. |
33They will be like a vine whose grapes are harvested too early, like an olive tree that loses its blossoms before the fruit can form. | 33They will be like a vine whose grapes are harvested too early, like an olive tree that loses its blossoms before the fruit can form. |
34For the godless are barren. Their homes, enriched through bribery, will burn. | 34For the godless are barren. Their homes, enriched through bribery, will burn. |
35They conceive trouble and give birth to evil. Their womb produces deceit.” | 35They conceive trouble and give birth to evil. Their womb produces deceit.” |
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
|