1And Eliphaz the Temanite answers and says:

2“Does a wise man answer [with] vain knowledge? And fill his belly [with] an east wind?

3To reason with a word not useful? And speeches—no profit in them?

4Indeed, you make reverence void, and diminish meditation before God.

5For your mouth teaches your iniquity, || And you choose the tongue of the cunning.

6Your mouth declares you wicked, and not I, || And your lips testify against you.

7Are you the first man born? And were you formed before the heights?

8Do you hear of the secret counsel of God? And withdraw wisdom to you?

9What have you known, and we do not know? [What] do you understand, and it is not with us?

10Both the gray-headed || And the very aged [are] among us—Greater than your father [in] days.

11Are the comforts of God too few for you? And a gentle word [is] with you,

12Why does your heart take you away? And why are your eyes high?

13Do you turn your spirit against God? And have brought out words from your mouth:

14What [is] man that he is pure, || And that he is righteous, one born of woman?

15Behold, He puts no credence in His holy ones, || And the heavens have not been pure in His eyes.

16Also—surely abominable and filthy || Is man drinking perverseness as water.

17I show you—listen to me—And this I have seen and declare,

18Which the wise declare—And have not hid—from their fathers.

19To them alone was the land given, || And a stranger did not pass over into their midst:

20All [the] days of the wicked he is paining himself, || And few years have been laid up for the terrible one.

21A fearful voice [is] in his ears, || In peace a destroyer comes to him.

22He does not believe to return from darkness, || And he watches for the sword.

23He is wandering for bread: Where [is] it? He has known that ready at his hand || Is a day of darkness.

24Adversity and distress terrify him, || They prevail over him as a king ready for a boaster.

25For he stretched out his hand against God, || And against the Mighty he makes himself mighty.

26He runs to Him with a neck, || With thick bosses of his shields.

27For he has covered his face with his fat, || And makes vigor over [his] confidence.

28And he inhabits cities cut off, houses not dwelt in, || That have been ready to become heaps.

29He is not rich, nor does his wealth rise, || Nor does he stretch out their continuance on earth.

30He does not turn aside from darkness, || A flame dries up his tender branch, || And he turns aside at the breath of His mouth!

31Do not let him put credence in vanity, || He has been deceived, || For vanity is his exchange.

32It is not completed in his day, || And his bending branch is not green.

33He shakes off his unripe fruit as a vine, || And casts off his blossom as an olive.

34For the company of the profane [is] barren, || And fire has consumed tents of bribery.

35To conceive misery, and to bear iniquity, || Even their heart prepares deceit.”