The Holy Bible
« Chapter 14 «--- Job ---» Chapter 16»
Job 15 : 1 - 35
Chapter 15
1 | Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
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2 | "Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind?
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3 | Should he reason with unprofitable talk, Or by speeches with which he can do no good?
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4 | Yes, you cast off fear, And restrain prayer before God.
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5 | For your iniquity teaches your mouth, And you choose the tongue of the crafty.
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6 | Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; Yes, your own lips testify against you.
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7 | "Are you the first man who was born? Or were you made before the hills?
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8 | Have you heard the counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
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9 | What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not in us?
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10 | Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, Much older than your father.
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11 | Are the consolations of God too small for you, And the word spoken gently with you?
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12 | Why does your heart carry you away, And what do your eyes wink at,
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13 | That you turn your spirit against God, And let such words go out of your mouth?
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14 | "What is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?
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15 | If God puts no trust in His saints, And the heavens are not pure in His sight,
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16 | How much less man, who is abominable and filthy, Who drinks iniquity like water!
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17 | "I will tell you, hear me; What I have seen I will declare,
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18 | What wise men have told, Not hiding anything received from their fathers,
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19 | To whom alone the land was given, And no alien passed among them:
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20 | The wicked man writhes with pain all his days, And the number of years is hidden from the oppressor.
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21 | Dreadful sounds are in his ears; In prosperity the destroyer comes upon him.
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22 | He does not believe that he will return from darkness, For a sword is waiting for him.
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23 | He wanders about for bread, saying, "Where is it?' He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand.
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24 | Trouble and anguish make him afraid; They overpower him, like a king ready for battle.
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25 | For he stretches out his hand against God, And acts defiantly against the Almighty,
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26 | Running stubbornly against Him With his strong, embossed shield.
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27 | "Though he has covered his face with his fatness, And made his waist heavy with fat,
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28 | He dwells in desolate cities, In houses which no one inhabits, Which are destined to become ruins.
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29 | He will not be rich, Nor will his wealth continue, Nor will his possessions overspread the earth.
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30 | He will not depart from darkness; The flame will dry out his branches, And by the breath of His mouth he will go away.
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31 | Let him not trust in futile things, deceiving himself, For futility will be his reward.
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32 | It will be accomplished before his time, And his branch will not be green.
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33 | He will shake off his unripe grape like a vine, And cast off his blossom like an olive tree.
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34 | For the company of hypocrites will be barren, And fire will consume the tents of bribery.
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35 | They conceive trouble and bring forth futility; Their womb prepares deceit."
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Acknowledgement
Opening page