¹Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

²“Would a wise man answer with such empty ‘knowledge’ that is just a lot of hot air?[#15:2. “Hot air”: literally, “fill his belly with the east,” the direction of a hot wind blowing in the desert.]

³He wouldn't argue with unprofitable speeches using words that do no good.

⁴But you are doing away with the fear of God, and destroying communion with him.

⁵It's your sins that are doing the talking, and you are choosing deceptive words.

⁶Your own mouth is condemning you, not me; your own lips are testifying against you.

⁷Were you the very first person to be born? Were you born before the hills were created?[#15:7. Note the parallel to Proverbs 8:25.]

⁸Were you there listening in God's council? Does wisdom only belong to you?[#15:8. Referring to the council in heaven, 1:6; 2:1.]

⁹What do you know that we don't? What do you understand that we don't?

¹⁰We have among us old, gray-haired people much older than your father!

¹¹Are the comforts God provides too little for you? Are God's gentle words not enough for you?

¹²Why do you let yourself be carried away by your emotions?[#15:12. Literally, “Why does your heart take you?”]

¹³Why do your eyes flash in anger that you turn against God and let yourself speak this way?

¹⁴Who can say they are clean? Which human being can say that they do what is right?

¹⁵Look, God doesn't even trust his angels—even the heavenly beings are not pure in his sight!

¹⁶How much less pure are those who are unclean and corrupt, drinking in sin like water!

¹⁷If you are ready to listen to me, I will show you. I will explain my insights.

¹⁸This is what wise men have said, confirmed by their ancestors,

¹⁹those to whom alone the land was given before foreigners ever were there.[#15:19. Implying that the influence of foreigners might have impacted traditional wisdom.]

²⁰The wicked writhe in pain all their lives, through all the years these oppressors survive.

²¹Terrifying sounds fill their ears; even when they think they're safe, the destroyer will attack them.

²²They don't believe they will escape the darkness—they know a sword is waiting for them.[#15:22. Meaning that they expect to be murdered.]

²³They wander around looking for food, asking ‘Where is it?’ They know that their day of darkness is close at hand.

²⁴Misery and torment overwhelm them like a king preparing for battle.

²⁵They shake their fists in God's face, defiantly challenging the Almighty,

²⁶insolently attacking him with their shields.

²⁷They have become fat in their rebellion, their bellies bloated with fat.

²⁸But their cities will become desolate; they will live in abandoned houses that are crumbling into ruins.

²⁹They will lose their riches, their wealth will not endure, their possessions will not spread over the earth.

³⁰They will not escape from the darkness. Like a tree whose shoots are burned up in a forest fire, the breath of God will blow him away.

³¹They should not trust in things that are worthless, for their reward will be worthless.[#15:31. “Worthless,” or “vanity.”]

³²This will be paid in full before their time has come. They are like tree branches that wither,

³³like vines that lose their unripe grapes, or olive trees that lose their flowers.[#15:33. In other words fruit trees that fail to produce a good harvest.]

³⁴For those who reject God are barren, and fire will burn up the homes of those who love bribes.[#15:34. Or “unproductive.”]

³⁵They plan trouble and produce evil, giving birth to deception.”