[1] Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,
[2] “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge And fill himself with the east wind?
[3] Should he argue with useless talk, Or with words which are not profitable?
[4] Indeed, you do away with reverence And hinder meditation before God.
[5] For your guilt teaches your mouth, And you choose the language of the crafty.
[6] Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; And your own lips testify against you.
[7] Were you the first man to be born, Or were you brought forth before the hills?
[8] Do you hear the secret counsel of God, And limit wisdom to yourself?
[9] What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that we do not?
[10] Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, Older than your father.
[11] Are the consolations of God too small for you, Even the word spoken gently with you?
[12] Why does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes flash,
[13] That you should turn your spirit against God And allow such words to go out of your mouth?
[14] What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
[15] Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones, And the heavens are not pure in His sight;
[16] How much less one who is detestable and corrupt, Man, who drinks iniquity like water!
[17] I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare;
[18] What wise men have told, And have not concealed from their fathers,
[19] To whom alone the land was given, And no alien passed among them.
[20] The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, And numbered are the years stored up for the ruthless.
[21] Sounds of terror are in his ears; While at peace the destroyer comes upon him.
[22] He does not believe that he will return from darkness, And he is destined for the sword.
[23] He wanders about for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is at hand.
[24] Distress and anguish terrify him, They overpower him like a king ready for the attack,
[25] Because he has stretched out his hand against God And conducts himself arrogantly against the Almighty.
[26] He rushes headlong at Him With his massive shield.
[27] For he has covered his face with his fat And made his thighs heavy with flesh.
[28] He has lived in desolate cities, In houses no one would inhabit, Which are destined to become ruins.
[29] He will not become rich, nor will his wealth endure; And his grain will not bend down to the ground.
[30] He will not escape from darkness; The flame will wither his shoots, And by the breath of His mouth he will go away.
[31] Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; For emptiness will be his reward.
[32] It will be accomplished before his time, And his palm branch will not be green.
[33] He will drop off his unripe grape like the vine, And will cast off his flower like the olive tree.
[34] For the company of the godless is barren, And fire consumes the tents of the corrupt.
[35] They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity, And their mind prepares deception.”