Job 15

Berean Standard Bible

Chapter summary

Eliphaz the Temanite begins his second speech by rebuking Job for speaking with empty words and undermining the fear of God. He questions Job's wisdom, noting that older and more experienced men than Job's father agree with his friends. Eliphaz accuses Job of turning his spirit against God, arguing that no mortal born of a woman can be truly righteous or pure before the Almighty. Drawing upon the traditions of wise men, Eliphaz describes the inevitable torment, terror, and ruin that befall the wicked person who defies God. He asserts that the wicked live in distress, lose their wealth, and ultimately face destruction like a vine stripped of its grapes.

Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.

Words of Jesus in red

¹Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: ²“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind? ³Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose? ⁴But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him. ⁵For your iniquity instructs your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty. ⁶Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you; your own lips testify against you. ⁷Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills? ⁸Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself? ⁹What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us? ¹⁰Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side— men much older than your father. ¹¹Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you? ¹²Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash, ¹³so that you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth? ¹⁴What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? ¹⁵If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes, ¹⁶how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water? ¹⁷Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen, ¹⁸what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers, ¹⁹to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them. ²⁰A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless. ²¹Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him. ²²He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword. ²³He wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand. ²⁴Distress and anguish terrify him, overwhelming him like a king poised to attack. ²⁵For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty, ²⁶rushing headlong at Him with a thick, studded shield. ²⁷Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh, ²⁸he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become rubble. ²⁹He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land. ³⁰He will not escape from the darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away. ³¹Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward. ³²It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish. ³³He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms. ³⁴For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery. ³⁵They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”